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The Northfield Series. 

i6mo, cloth, each, net, 30 cents. 

Weighed and Wanting: The Ten Command- i 
ments. By D. L. Moody. 

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Fleming H. Revell Company, 

Chicago. New York. Toronto. 


Tales of Adventure 
from the Old Book 


BY 

REV. THOMAS CHAMPNESS 




Fleming H. Revell Company 

Chicago • New York : Toronto 

1899 


65 57<a 

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THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Cow t= R ECtiiveo 

OCT. 27 If 902 


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COPY 3. 


Copyrighted , i8gg, 

The Bible Institute Colportage A ssociation. 


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CONTENTS 


PAGE 

How the Flail Became a Sword ... 7 

How THEY TOOK THE FORT .... 14 

How the Jail-Bird turned out to be a Bird 

of Paradise! ...... 18 

With the King, Dead or Alive! . . .23 

The Fate of the Mutineers .... 28 

How the Rainmaker met the King . . .33 

How an Angel came Aboard . . 38 

How we went Ashore on a Plank . -43 

The Battle among the Barley . . . 47 

How the Queen beat the Courtier . . . 51 

The Man who turned out better than his 

Mother expected ..... 56 

How the Wolf became a Shepherd . . .60 

The Four Lepers ...... 65 

The Taking of Ai . . . . . .82 

The Transfigured Poor Steward ... 88 

Winning God’s Battles 96 

Stoning the Gods ...... 104 

Grace and Gratitude 111 


Tales of Adventure from 
the Old Book 

HOW THE FLAIL BECAME A SWORD 
(Judges vi and vii.) 

Most of us want to get on in the world. He who 
does not wish to improve himself, as a rule, does not 
count except as a 0. In the book of Judges, we have 
the story of a revolution brought about by a young 
farmer who became a great man, who lifted his 
country out of oppression and slavery. 

This was how it came about. He was threshing 
wheat, not in the barn, or a place where the flail was 
generally used, but up among the vines, where no one 
would think of looking for a man at that job. Those 
were hard times, when a man dare not let folks know 
that he had wheat, because of the enemy who would 
certainly have stolen that which the farmer had toiled 
so hard to produce ! 

“And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the 
Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the chil- 
dren of the east, even they came up against them ; and 

7 


8 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


they encamped against them, and destroyed the 
increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and 
left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor 
ass. For they came up with their cattle and their 
tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; 
for both they and their camels were without number : 
and they entered into the land to destroy it. And 
Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midi- 
anites; and the children of Israel cried unto the 
Lord.” 

It was while he had the flail in his hand that the 
angel of the Lord came and saluted him: “The Lord is 
with thee, thou mighty man of valor. * ’ 

ANGELS don’t COME TO FELLOWS WHO WHINE, BUT TO 
THOSE WHO WORK. 

There are lots of men who sigh for promotion, but 
will never get it, for they are not making the most of 
themselves in their present occupation. Handle thy 
flail if thou wouldst change it for the victor’s sword! 
Let the angel hear thee, for though thou art hidden 
from the Midianites, God counts thy flail to make 
music sweet to His ear. 

What! Do you wish to be a minister? Then 
become the best local preacher in the place. Be the 
sort of preacher that the folk in the villages will say : 

“When are you coming again, sir?” 

Do you think your master ought to raise your wages, 
eh? Then let him see that you are first there and last 
away, and that you can be trusted when there’s no eye 
to watch you. Work so that the worst thing he can 
say about you is that he will have to pay more income 
tax. That’s a fault he will forgive. 


HOW THE FLAIL BECAME A SWORD 


9 


GIDEON MADE THE CHAFF TO FLY 

before he drove out the Midianites. If he had sulked 
with the flail he would never have been trusted with 
the sword. 

Then he did not give up the flail till he was sure he 
had won the sword. Some who cannot read between 
the lines think that his asking for signs was want of 
faith. Nothing of the sort! The angel would not 
have taken the pains he did if it had been either 
stupidity or unbelief. The wonderful signs of the 
damp and dry fleece would not have been given if he 
had been a shirker. The peasant showed that he was 
fit to be a prince when he obeyed the voice of God in 
throwing down the altar of Baal, and building an altar 
where every one could see it. This was a great risk to 
run, and Gideon must have known it. He was no 
coward, not he, but could put himself in perils; only 
he would not be a leader till he was quite sure that 
was his place. 

MODESTY IS NEVER MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN WHEN IT IS 
WORN BY COURAGE. 

If you are destined to be a front-rank man, people 
will find you out and send you there. The farmers of 
that neighborhood felt that a man who would dare to 
throw down the altar of Baal was the sort they did not 
see every day. If you would be promoted, run some 
risk, do something to 

DRAW THE ENEMY’S FIRE. 

There are plenty of men to keep the barrack clean ; go 
you to the war! Get into danger, then you will be 
seen. 


10 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


Lord Wolseley, as general, was once addressing a 
number of young officers, and said : 

“If you want to get on, try to get shot as soon as 
you can!” 

Their grandmothers had not told them so, but 
Wolseley knew that was how he had won his way. 

Don’t seek office. Seek the enemy. Make the foe 
dread you, and then you will win another stripe. 

The man with a flail was willing to go to war with a 
very small force. It is a wonderful story, how he was 
led to sieve out the soldiers. It turned out that he had 

22,000 MEN, ALL WORTHY TO WEAR THE WHITE 
FEATHER. 

“Proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoso- 
ever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart 
early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the 
people twenty and two thousand ; and there remained 
ten thousand.” 

This is true of a great many who are in our ranks. 
If they had a respectable opportunity of going home 
they would not hesitate. And what a drag they are, 
how they hinder progress ! 

Then there were others who did not pass God’s test, 
so that 300 were all that were left. 

Is it not too true that God is hindered by His own 
side? It is not capital that makes the merchant, but 
knowing how to buy and when to sell. One of the 
most effective village evangelists I have ever known 
was a man who had a sad impediment in his speech. 
Fluency is not vigor, and even scholarship is not indis- 
pensable. Use the forces God gives you and He will 


HOW THE FLAIL BECAME A SWORD 


11 


lead you to victory. Don’t be afraid because you are 
not as great a man as others. Determine that you 
will be as good if not better than any. 

IF YOUR SWORD IS SHORT YOU MUST GET NEARER 
THE ENEMY 

that’s all. 

Encouragement waits the brave. What a story that 
is of the dream ! Read it, and remember that he who 
will enter the camp of the enemy will hear that which 
will make him glad he is a soldier. 

“And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord 
said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host ; for 
I have delivered it into thine hand. But if thou fear 
to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to 
the host: and thou shalt hear what they say; and 
afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down 
unto the host. 

“Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto 
the outside of the armed men that were in the host. 

“And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the 
children of the east lay along in the valley like grass- 
hoppers for multitude; and their camels were with- 
out number, as the sand by the sea side for multi- 
tude. 

“And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a 
man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, 
Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley 
bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto 
a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that 
the tent lay along. 

“And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing 
else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man 


12 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


of Israel : for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, 
and all the host. 

“And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of 
the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he 
worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and 
said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your 
hand the host of Midian. 

“And he divided the three hundred men into three 
companies, and he put a trumpet in every man’s 
hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the 
pitchers. And he said unto them, Look on me, and do 
likewise : and, behold, when I come to the outside of 
the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 
When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with 
me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of 
all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of 
Gideon. 

“So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with 
him, came unto the outside of the camp in the begin- 
ning of the middle watch ; and they had but newly set 
the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake 
the pitchers that were in their hands. And the 
three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the 
pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, 
and the trumpets in their right hands to blow 
withal : and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and 
of Gideon. 

“And they stood every man in his place round about 
the camp : and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. 
And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the 
Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even 
throughout all the host: and the host fled.’’ 

Fight on your own lines when once you have the 


HOW THE FLAIL BECAME A SWORD 


13 


sword. Gideon had his own plan of campaign. It 
must have looked ridiculous if it had been on a pro- 
gramme, but it was most effective. 

don’t imitate any one. 

Make your own precedents. If Spurgeon had been 
like other Baptist preachers of his time, there would 
have been no Metropolitan Tabernacle. Individuality 
has a charm of its own, and so that the Midianites are 
driven out of the country, we will forgive the broken 
pots. 

THE SWORD OF THE LORD IS WAITING FOR GIDEON. 

Surely there is some young man who has handled 
the flail and will pick up the sword. Never did the 
Church need leaders more than at present, and I can- 
not give you better advice than this : — win honor by 
teaching the Midianites the nearest way home, 


HOW THEY TOOK THE FORT 


(I Samuel xiv.) 

Some of the most brilliant of victories have been 
won because there was a man who climbed up what 
was thought to be too steep for anything that had not 
wings. 

Saul had a son who, I fancy, took after his mother, 
for certainly 

HIS FATHER SEEMS TO BE OF ANOTHER BREED. 

This Jonathan saw that instead of the army in 
which he was a soldier, resting in Gibeah, they ought 
to make a dash at the fort where the Philistines were 
garrisoned. So he said to the young fellow who bore 
his armor: 

“Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison. 
It may be that the Lord will work for us ; for there is 
no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” 

But the story goes on to say, “He told not his 
father. ’ ’ Not because he despised him or had ceased to 
love him, though he no longer could admire him. We 
have only to look at the last page of their history to 
see how, in spite of the unworthy conduct of the old 
man, his heroic son stood by him to the last, and died 
defending the parent who was unworthy of such a son. 

Let me say here: Don’t take people into your confi- 
dence who will throw cold water on your plans. Keep 

14 


HOW THEY TOOK THE FORT 


15 


your own counsel, except with those who are willing 
to share the risk and stand by you, come what will. 
Church history goes to show that if men would win the 
hero’s crown, they must be willing to be in the 
minority when they begin, and 

KEEP THE SECRET 

from those who ought to smile but are sure to frown. 

And if you are No. 2, do all you can to make No. 1 
feel that he has a man at his back who will not fail 
him. How cheery were the words of the armor- 
bearer, “Behold, I am with thee, according to thy 
heart.” As if he had said, “Take a good look at me, 
and see if there’s a white feather about me.” 

It is a glorious thing when a leader has only to look 
behind him to feel that he has those at his back who 
will win, or die with him. 

It is good to see that Jonathan was a man of prayer. 
He had talked over with his God, and was sure of 
Divine guidance, so he said : 

“When they see us we will notice what they say. If 
they say, ‘Come,’ then we shall know that God means 
us to win, and up we will go.” 

It was long before there were long shots; and so 
the heroic pair were not afraid of being seen. 

When the soldiers on guard caught a glimpse of 
these brave fellows they sneered at them, as though 
they were rabbits: 

“Come up to us,” said they, “and we will show you 
a thing. ’ ’ 

“All right,” said No. 1. “Come up after me: for 
the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel. ” 


16 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


Up they went, like the pair of athletes they were. 
None but men who were well trained could have 
climbed up that steep rock and had 

WIND LEFT TO BEGIN TO FIGHT, 

for as soon as they were on the level they began the 
battle. Only two, and an army to fight ; but had not 
Jonathan an old promise on his side, “You shall put 
ten thousand to flight”? 

And sure enough, it came off, as all God’s words do. 
You be on the side of right, and you will be in align- 
ment with Omnipotence. It is not a question of num- 
bers, but righteousness wedded to faith, which brings 
victory, as those who delivered us from the stain of 
slave-dealing could testify. 

The sword of the Supernatural was drawn to help 
this glorious pair, for the enemy got into a state of 
confusion and slew each other. And the cries of the 
combatants were so loud that the royal coward who 
was at ease under the pomegranate tree heard of it 
from his sentries, and came with his army to take part. 

Make sure of this : if you will be willing to run risks 
for God He will not fail you. Be sure that you are 
doing His will, then strike in, come what may, and very 
soon 

THE MOB THAT WAITS TO SEE WHICH SIDE WINS 

will come and help you who have made the venture. 

Now, then, my friend the reader, where are you 
found in the battle? Shall you take rank with Jona- 
than and his armor-bearer, or come in afterwards with 
Saul? In warehouses, offices, and factories there are 


HOW THEY TOOK THE FORT 


17 


difficulties to be contended with as hard as Michmash 
was, but there is the pathway of honor. Ease and 
pleasure are not the chief things in life. Where the 
enemy and danger are is 

THE PLACE TO SEEK THE CROWN. 

I want that when you get to heaven you shall have 
the right to walk with Saul’s brave son ; but that can- 
not be if you only come in to help with the shouting. 

The ignoble is to be found where the plunder is. 
We read of some who had hidden themselves, men who 
had taken shelter in caves and holes on the sides of the 
hills. Even these came out to help as soon as the 
Philistines began to run. There are yet to be found 
in the churches crowds who can help to slay the foe 
when nothing but his back is to be seen, but 

Be not like dumb driven cattle, 

Be a hero in the strife ! 


HOW THE JAIL BIRD TURNED OUT TO BE 
A BIRD OF PARADISE! 

(Genesis xxxix.) 

Yes, Joseph was caged, sure enough! His master, 
in a blaze of anger, sent him to jail, and the hand- 
some lad found himself heavily fettered, and, worse 
still, believed to be an ungrateful traitor. What a 
trial! How full of anguish he must have been, and 
how much he suffered from the iron chains on hands 
and feet! We read in Psalm cv., “Whose feet they 
hurt with fetters ; he was laid in iron. ’ ’ Most likely 
his tender heart felt the accusation made against him 
worse to bear than the heavy fetters. What was to be 
done? 

We hear a great deal said nowadays about environ- 
ment, and sinners are sometimes excused because of 
their surroundings ; but it is well to know that 

CHARACTER IS THE RULER, NOT ENVIRONMENT. 

Joseph would not degrade himself in jail any more than 
he had done in the mansion. He who had said “No” 
when solicited to evil, would not yield now that he was 
in bondage. 

There is no necessity to sin, whether we are the 
darlings or the exiles of fortune. 

God was with Joseph in the prison, as He had been 
in the house of his master. What had he not been 
saved from? Murder, it may be. Adultery is often 

18 


HOW THE JAIL BIRD TURNED OUT 


19 


the forerunner of other crimes, as in the case of 
David. Most likely this wicked woman, if Joseph had 
yielded, would have pointed out that it would be easy 
to remove the one who hindered their living together, 
and so the sweetest story in the world would have been 
unwritten. 

But the decided conduct of the young man forbade 
this wicked woman’s hopes, and so her passion changed 
from lust to malice. That is 

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFFECTION AND PASSION. 

Those who love what they can esteem can afford to 
vrait, and even rejoice in the elevation of the object of 
their affections, though not permitted to share their 
good fortune. Passion must either possess, or burn 
with anger and jealousy, as was the case with this 
wicked woman, for she rested not till he whom she 
had plotted to possess was, at her instigation, heavily 
ironed in jail. 

The man in charge of the prison saw reason to relax 
the rigor of the bondage. Joseph showed what he 
was, and when the fetters were removed, and he was 
allowed some liberty, performed the allotted task in a 
style that won favor at the hands of those who were 
over him. Very soon 

THE QUALITY OF THE LAD SHOWED ITSELF, 

and the jailer felt that he had no common man under 
his charge ; and so, one duty after another was com- 
mitted to the prisoner, until, with the exception of the 
emoluments, Joseph was the governor of the king’s 
prison. 


20 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


I repeat, it is not our surroundings, but ourselves, 
which rule our lives. Just as it had been in the old 
farmhouse at home, the lad refused to be mean and 
crafty because his brethren were, so now he will not 
be of the jail, though he must live inside the dreary 
wall. Joseph’s cheerfulness made him smile in the 
face of tyranny and oppression. As he had resisted 
the evil example of his elder brethren, and shrank with 
horror from the pollution of sexual crime, so now the 
iron seemed to have passed into his blood and made 
him glad to overcome adversity by contented fortitude. 

But winter does not last all the year. Providence 
gave spring its turn, and so the tender buds appear, 
and there is promise of brighter days in store. There 
has been a reason for all this suffering. “The word 
of the Lord tried him, ’ ’ we are told. A young local 
preacher of my acquaintance, preaching about this 
the other day, said, “Joseph was kept in prison, just as 

WE KEEP BULBS IN THE DARK 

all the winter, so that they may have all the finer blos- 
soms in the spring. ’ ’ And so, my friend, if affliction 
is thy portion, pray that as with Joseph, sorrow and 
pain may be thy teachers. Adversity charges high 
fees, but he turns out some grand scholars. 

Pharaoh will need the services of the son of Jacob, 
for the future premier of Egypt is the farmer’s son ; 
and so the king has that fearful dream, which baffles 
all the skill of his soothsayers. At this crisis the chief 
butler remembers the kindness shown to him by the 
deputy jailer, and suggests that the prison contains the 
man needed then. Accordingly, Joseph was sum- 


HOW THE JAIL BIRD TURNED OUT 


21 


moned in haste, and as soon as he had tidied himself, 
came into the monarch’s presence, once more to show 


that 


CHARACTER IS CROWNED WITH ENVIRONMENT 
AS ITS EMPIRE, 

for when he had the opportunity of display, modesty 
gave the glory to Jehovah, and the king was told: 

“It is not in me; God shall give Pharaoh an answer 
of peace.” 

When the dream was told, the meaning was 
explained, and the king was advised to make such use 
of the seven good years that the granaries should be 
filled with corn, so as to be ready when the seven years 
of famine should bring hunger to every door. We 
cannot but admire the promptitude of Pharaoh in 
handing the management of 

THIS STUPENDOUS DIFFICULTY 

to Joseph, but we are glad that he should send him out 
into the streets wearing the royal robes, and riding in 
the royal chariot. What a change ! In the morning 
in jail; before night every one bowing the knee before 
him! Verily, Lady Potiphar would have a sore time 
of it! 

Let those of us who have to bear indignities, though 
we are in the right, and are fettered by care or sorrow, 
though heirs of heaven, bear in mind that Joseph had 
an iron chain before the gold one was placed round his 
neck. It is better, if needs be, that we ride in the 
prison van before we step into the royal chariot. What 
we have to make sure of is, that we say “No” to 


22 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


temptation, and refuse to be drawn into evil compan- 
ionship. We may have to suffer for a time. Lies may 
get the start, but 

TRUTH CAN OUT-WALK THEM 

and survive to tell the tale when falsehood’s tongue is 
paralyzed. No one believes nowadays what Lady 
Potiphar said ; and Joseph’s funeral was the grandest 
the world has ever seen, for a whole nation was in the 
procession, and pillar of cloud led the way to his 
gravel 


WITH THE KING, DEAD OR ALIVE! 

(II Samuel xv. 21.) 

So said Ittai. Read the story for yourself, and you 
will feel as I do, that David must have been cheered at 
heart with the brave utterance of this hero. 

It was at a time of trial such as comes to few men. 
The king of Israel was then leaving the royal city, 
driven before the face of his rebellious though hand- 
some son, Absalom. Could there be a greater grief 
than that? And just then it was that Ittai spoke words 
which were as music to David’s soul. 

ADVERSITY IS A RARE SIEVE. 

It sorts out our friends for us. It is worth being 
poor and desolate if only to find out who love us. 

The troops were marching out of Jerusalem, and 
David watched them go by, missing every minute 
some who had once professed loyalty to him, but who 
had gone to worship the rising sun ! As he listened to 
the tramp of the soldiers there came along a troop of 
Philistines who had taken service with the son of 
Jesse. Doubtless they were friends or relatives of 
Ittai, who had brought them with him when he chose 
David as his king. 

“Nay,” said the fallen monarch, “that cannot be. 
I cannot ask thee and thy friends to share my ruin. 

23 4 


24 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


Go home to thy own land, and take thy brave band as 
well. Mercy and truth be with thee!” 

Ay, and these chances of going back come to men 
and women nowadays. Some change comes into our 
life, a new home and new friends, new employments 
and fresh responsibilities, which seem to say : 

“You cannot do as you have been used to do; go 
back. ’ ’ 

Sometimes it is the falling away of some standard- 
bearer. A man whom we have all looked up to, and 
thought to have him at our head forever ; and lo ! he 
has proved recreant, and we scarcely dare keep on our 
way because of the disgrace which has come to our 
cause. It is almost as if Prudence said, Return ! 

Or it may be 

AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE. 

The man is in many ways desirable. He is hand- 
some and well set up. He has good prospects. He 
offers a good home and is very full of promises of com- 
fort and joy. The woman would rise in the social 
scale, and have advantages to which she has been a 
stranger ; but he is not a Christian, and there would 
be no family worship. Not that he is an infidel or a 
drunkard. Still he is not godly, and he will not help 
the bride, when she becomes a mother, to lead her 
children to heaven. But she may never have such a 
chance again. Such an opportunity, some one says, 
comes but once in a lifetime, and Providence seems to 
say, Return! 

What shall we do when the King says, “Go back”? 
It is David who speaks. If it had been some underling, 


WITH THE KING , DEAD OR ALIVE! 


25 


it would not have been worth while to consider the 
offer for a moment; but it is the monarch himself. 
True, but I don’t think it was a temptation to this 
brave man, Ittai. 

HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO TURN ROUND. 

He had made his choice forever. It was David, liv- 
ing or dead, and no one else ! These providences, as 
some call them, come to prove what metal we are 
made of, and we cannot afford to linger. We lose 
caste if we pause a moment. It is not ourselves we 
are to think of, but the battle; we must be there to 
take our share of the blows and peril. 

How the soldiers would listen for the answer of 
Ittai ! His utterance would fire them with new cour- 
age ; they would march on with a quicker step, for his 
words ring out like a trumpet. Nay, he swore by the 
God of his king that he would not return ! It is as 
though he had said: 

“Where is the king going? For where he is, there I 
shall be. If he is victorious, and you force him back 
on his throne, I shall be standing by his side ; or if 
the battle goes against us, and the king is slain, 

YOU WILL FIND MY BODY UNDER HIS, 

for I shall die in his defense ! In what place my lord 
the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there 
also will thy servant be!” 

You can hear David shout, “March!” and as the 
troops passed on, though there were tears shed by the 
people as he went on, there would be a smile in the 
king’s heart. Defeat is impossible to such men as 
Ittai. Woe to the men who dared to face such soldiers 


26 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


as he was ! If Absalom had heard him, he would have 
known that his cause was lost. 

It would be well for those of us who march under 
the banner of Jesus to let His foes hear us speak with- 
out faltering, and see that we are ready to welcome 
death rather than dishonor, or even departure from 
the ranks. 

HONOR AWAITS THE LOYAL. 

When we next meet with Ittai, he is in charge of a 
third part of the king’s army. He was like Joab and 
Abishai in rank, and, like them, he had charge from 
the king to deal gently with his wicked but beloved 
son. And that is all we know. It is possible that he 
fell in battle. Such a man must have been heard of if 
he had been alive. He was not the kind of man to 
sink into obscurity ; so it is more than likely that he 
fell in the defense of the king. But men like Ittai 
live on ; their deeds and words keep them from death ; 
their lives are always with us and help us to be brave. 

Let us not forget that this gallant soldier was not 
the countryman of David. He was the hereditary foe 
of Israel, but 

HE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE LION-HEARTED 
SON OF JESSE, 

and followed him from Gath. Perhaps, among my 
readers, there is one who up to now has been on the 
wrong side. If so, come over to us. If you are no 
coward, we will find you the opportunity to show your 
mettle. Like David, Jesus is often in the minority, 
and He delights in taking into the ranks those who 
were born under another flag. 


WITH THE KING, DEAD OR ALIVE ! 


27 


And let us who have enlisted with Jesus say that, 
come what will, we will never leave nor forsake Him. 
There may be the chance of gain, the possibilities of 
popularity, the openings to fame and advancement, 
but we may have to pay too great a price for these 
baubles. Besides, if we return, 

ABSALOM MAY OFFER US PLACE AND POWER, 

and we may find ourselves striking a blow at Him 
whom it once was our delight to honor. No, no; we 
will not return. Whether it is life or death we will be 
with the King. Come what may, we will never turn 
our backs against David. Let us rather die in the 
field and never return to share in the honors which 
wait those who come back to Jerusalem with him. A 
grave in the field is better than the pillows upon 
which cowards sleep. For death or for life, with the 
King shall our lot be cast J 


THE FATE OF THE MUTINEERS 
(Numbers xvi.) 

Moses was a model leader. Never was an expedi- 
tion better managed than the journey to the Promised 
Land, but rebellion is not a question of situation, but 
of disposition. Bread enough and to spare does not 
keep prodigals in the old farmhouse, no more than 
beauty and holiness kept the angels from falling in 
Paradise. If you are enticed to mutiny, you will not 
be won over to the rebels if you are loyal ; temptation 
is powerless without willfulness in the soul that is 
lured to evil. Sin, like some matches, strikes only on 
the box, and it was not the tyranny of Moses, but the 
pride of Korah and his companions which made the 
famous insurrection which bears their evil name. 

HEAVEN HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE SIDE OF 
RIGHTEOUS RULING, 

and we cannot join the rebels and expect prosperity. 
God’s promises were made to the willing and obedient. 
In school, business, and church life, we shall find that 
gravitation is on the side of the orbit. We cannot 
oppose law without peril. We may win applause, but 
not fame, by crossing the will of those who rule in 
uprightness. Korah was cheered by the mob, which 
afterwards deserted him. Before we begin a war 
with our superiors it is well to ascertain how often 

28 


THE FATE OF THE MUTINEERS 


29 


copper has fetched a higher price than gold. Judas 
may steal Christ’s coins, but he will spend them in 
buying a rope for his own neck ! 

DISCONTENT IS THE MOTHER OF REBELLION. 

Moses reminded the men of the mutiny that they were 
distinguished by God. He had given them, as sons of 
Levi, a position of ease and comfort. They never 
knew the pain and toil which was the common lot, 
their bread was given without sweat, for the tenth of 
that which grew was their portion. Moreover, by 
their dress they were sure to command respect, for as 
they walked the roads men saw in them the way to 
God. 

But this was not enough, there was some one above 
them ; as if it were possible for every one to be on a 
level! The higher you climb the mountain, the less 
room you will find. There is not room on the seats of 
the upper ten for the million, so it will be well to 
enjoy the bench which is our right place. You can 
only sit, if it be a throne. 

COURAGE ADDS TO THE PERIL OF EVIL-DOERS. 

No one can say that Korah and his helpers were 
cowards. When Moses challenged them to bring their 
censers and come before God, so that He might show 
whom He favored, there were no desertions. Every 
man came with his smoking censer. 

One cannot but be sorry that such bravery had not a 
better banner. It is a pity when virtue links itself to 
vice, and that which would be admirable if one with 
truth becomes the ally of evil. Do not think that 


30 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


bravery will stand you in good stead if you are in the 
wrong army. Courage could not keep the earth from 
gaping, or stout hearts from a living death, 

MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS. 

Moses was very gentle, and treated the people with 
uniform kindness. It may be that the rebels thought 
that he was soft because he was meek. They knew, if 
they had been in authority, they would have ruled 
with a rod of iron, and they mistook tenderness for 
timidity. 

Majesty can afford to be very mild. The Creator 
suffered Himself to be nailed to the cross, and His foes 
thought they might make sport of Him when He had 
allowed Himself to become their victim, 

But soon the Victor rose, 

Triumphant o’er His foes. 

Goodness is never so much to be dreaded as when she 
allows her enemies to smite her. She will have the 
last blow, and when she strikes, the fight is over. 

THOSE WHO ARE IN THE RIGHT NEED NOT 
FEAR NUMBERS. 

Do not ask which is the largest army. Ask which is 
fighting for the right! Moses and Aaron were only 
two, while the rebels were two hundred and fifty men, 
with the people on their side ; but Moses showed no 
signs of fear. The man who had seen Pharaoh quail 
before him was not to be cowed by this infamous 
crowd. 


THE FATE OF THE MUTINEERS 


31 


It was not officialism, but loyalty that made him 
equal to the occasion. Rank is but starch, it will make 
flesh to fill a uniform; but right makes bone and 
sinew to grasp the sword, and hew down the opposer. 

Make sure that God is with you, then let the other 
side be too great a crowd to be numbered, they will 
swell the triumph, and make the fight all the more 
famous because of the odds that were against you. 

CONSCIENCE HELPS OR HINDERS PRAYER. 

I do not read that Korah and his companions held a 
meeting for prayer. Moses said to the Lord : ‘ ‘ Respect 
not their offering.” He could remind his God that he 
had not stolen an ass of theirs, or ever injured any of 
them. He who has his conscience at his back will be 
kept from flinching before man, or being ashamed 
before God. Keep on good terms with conscience, for 
it has a wonderful memory. 

Our great poet has said, “Conscience makes cowards 
of us all. * ’ This is but half the truth. When a man 
knows that the Judge saw the thing done, and knows 
his innocence, he is not afraid to meet His eye. Do 
right, then you can appeal to high heaven. 

TIME IS ON THE SIDE OF INNOCENCE. 

The future has no sting for the good. A lie may put 
Joseph in jail, but it cannot keep him there. Moses 
said, “To-morrow we will meet before the Lord.” It 
is always a sign of guilt when a prisoner does not wish 
to wait for the assizes. “To-morrow! To-morrow!” 
said the man of God. We have no hint as to how the 
night was spent, but we are pretty sure who slept the 


32 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


longest. Wait on the Lord! If thou canst wait, thou 
needst not whine. Be glad that time is a womb of the 
future, and she bears nothing that can spoil thy for- 
tune. All things — and time is one — work together for 
good to them that love God. 

GOD IS SURE TO TAKE SIDES. 

He is never neutral. He may not show Himself for a 
space, but when He does, the glory will be against the 
rebel. When Jehovah declared Himself the meeting 
was over. 

The people were wise to stand aside, or they would 
share the punishment. What a stampede there would 
be! How they would trample on each other in mad 
haste to be as far as possible from the men whom they 
had cheered the day before ! 

And then there happened what had never before 
been seen, the earth opened and swallowed up the 
mutineers! Then the fire fell and made cinders of 
the allies of Korah, for the two hundred and fifty were 
burned to death, without one being permitted to 
escape. 

Oh, then, if I am ever tempted to rebel against the 
Lord let me see once again the fate of the mutineers 
and watch them sink into the earth like a ship going 
down in a calm sea. 


HOW THE RAINMAKER MET THE KING 
(I Kings xviii.) 

It was a time of drought. For three years and six 
months neither rain-drop nor dew had ever glistened 
on the grass or leaves. The land was baked ; the air, 
like a furnace, scorched your face ; and the cattle, such 
as had not died of thirst, were lean and weary of life. 
God’s threats, like His promises, are prophecies. The 
people had been told that to forsake the worship of 
Jehovah was to carve for themselves a future which 
should make death welcome. 

Lo, it has come to pass! Elijah has prayed that it 
might not rain, and then told the king of the doom 
that was about to come. When this was done, his 
Master hid the daring seer, and Ahab and the people 
were left to the black harvest of their sins. Every- 
where, doom is written on the faces of man and beast, 
and even 

THE BEAUTIFUL HORSES IN THE KING’S STUD 

will have to die if help is not given. Ahab was more 
anxious for his horses than his peasants, and was on 
the lookout for water to save their lives, so he and his 
steward are out prospecting for a spring. 

Obadiah, who was Ahab’s trusted servant, was a 
man in a thousand. He feared God, and had done all 
his life. Early piety had made him trustworthy, and 

33 


34 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


even Ahab knew when he was well served. But he 
thought more, did this king’s man, of seers than stal- 
lions, and knew a secret he had not told his master. 
The prophets of Jehovah had been massacred by the 
Queen’s orders; not all, though! 

THEY HAD A FRIEND AT COURT; 

for Obadiah hid a hundred of them and gave them 
bread and water. He knew of a spring, and kept the 
knowledge to himself, so the preachers were not all 
dead, though both the impious Jezebel and the right- 
eous Elijah thought they were. Things are never so 
bad but they might be worse ! 

While the godly steward was trudging on, he espied 
Elijah on the track. He was startled, and when told 
to fetch the king, he was frightened. 

“What have I done that I must die? when I go for 
my master the Lord will have thee away, and my 
master will be so angry that he will kill me!’’ 

What a picture this gives of Ahab! How careless of 
life, and what a victim to passion ! But Obadiah was 
assured that the seer would wait, and meet the angry 
king. 

What an interview it was! Ahab was no coward, 
but even he must have been startled when the charge 
of troubling the nation was hurled back to him, and 
he was told to call all the eight hundred and fifty of 
Baal’s prophets to a conference. 

BAAL WAS IN THE MAJORITY, 

but then, what are numbers when Omnipotence is in 
the sum? He who trusts God need not wait for the 
census to give him confidence. 


HOW THE RAINMAKER MET THE KING 


35 


Hast thou linked thyself to Jehovah? Then why 
reckon the other side? The more they are the easier 
to see them, and you must see before you strike ! 

How royal does the prophet appear! He is king, 
and Carmel is his throne. He has the promise of 
rain, and as he looks around and sees the burned-up 
fields and the lean and hungry men, he thinks of the 
change on the morrow, when nature shall once more 
wear her green dress, and all the trees of the field 
shall clap their hands again. Yes, there are to be 
showers of rain when Elijah gives the word, but before 
then he means to fight the battle of God and to make 
His foes to bite the dust. 

Defiance is given in the presence of gathered thou- 
sands, and Baal’s prophets have no excuse. They 
must accept the challenge of the lonely man. Fire 
from heaven shall prove which has Deity on their side. 

THE FALSE TEACHERS ARE ALLOWED THE FIRST INNINGS. 

But of what avail is their effort? All their cries and 
incantations are vain. Satan helped to deceive by 
lying wonders, but he must not show his power when 
Jehovah bids him hide. Idolatry is impotent, and 
Jezebel has the mortification of seeing those she has 
fed at her table unable to repay her hospitality. 

I wonder if the widow and her lad are there to see 
how their guest shall play the man ! 

And now the seer of God rebuilds his altar, and 
prepares the sacrifice ready for heaven’s blaze to 
descend. He then prays, while the people listen to 
his words of trust. 

“Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it 


36 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and 
that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these 
things at thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, 
that this people may know that thou art the Lord 
God, and that thou hast turned their heart back 
again.” 

In a moment, the fire falls, and nothing is seen of 
bullock or altar but the scorched mark the fire has left. 
But what a shout from the people: “Jehovah is God! 
Jehovah is God!” 

After the false prophets and priests have paid by 
their blood for the deception they had shown, the God 
of truth is ready with showers of blessing. 

THE RAINMAKER IS TO THE FRONT. 

He who had called down fire now promises the king 
floods of water, and bids the monarch expect the teem- 
ing rain. And while the voluptuous Ahab feasts, the 
seer of God bows in prayer to ask for the promised 
shower. 

Jehovah had said, “Go, show thyself to Ahab, and I 
will send rain. ’ ’ When we fulfill the conditions God 
will keep His word. Obedience holds the key to 
God’s stores, and he who does the will of Jehovah 
becomes His almoner. 

How bold is the rainmaker! He tells the king to 
hurry home if he would not have to wade through 
floods, for he has prayed till he has seen the cloud. 
It was no bigger than a man’s hand, it is true; but 
then, all God’s great things are born small, and need 
only time to fill the earth. And lo, the heavens are 
black, and storm and rain make it difficult to travel, 


HOW THE RAINMAKER MET THE KING 


37 


for Jehovah has kept His word, and those who had put 
their trust in Him were not confounded. 

Perhaps there was no happier home than that of 
Ahab’s steward. Obadiah had been rewarded for his 
kindness to the prophets ; and those of us who cannot 
be great like the seer of Carmel, may rejoice in the 
God that we love and serve the same great King, and 
that we shall shine in the gladness which waits those 
who trust in Him. 


HOW AN ANGEL CAME ABOARD 


(Acts xxvii.) 

Yes, an angel came to a man aboard a ship in the 
Mediterranean! There’s a road between heaven and 
good men, wherever they are. We know there’s a 
great gulf fixed between lost spirits and the saints in 
Paradise, but no gulf between Paradise and God’s 
servants, whether on sea or land. Paul told the terror- 
stricken men who sailed with him : 

“We shall be all right; for an angel has promised 
me that 


NOT ONE OF US WILL BE DROWNED.” 

Charles Wesley used to sing: 

“Angels our servants are 
And keep in all our ways, 

And in their watchful hands they bear 
The sacred sons of grace.” 

The question is, are you one of the sons of grace? 
If so, you cannot book to the wrong station, or travel 
in any land where the angels are not on the look-out. 

They are not always winged. A friend of mine met 
an angel which had four legs. He was coming home 
from an appointment. It was a lonely road, and one 
where he could not expect any succor, when a man 
stopped him, and demanded his watch or his life. 
Now, my friend knew that he could buy another watch 

38 


HOW AN ANGEL CAME ABOARD 


39 


easier than his widow could get another husband, and 
he was just going to hand over the time-keeper, when 
suddenly a great wolf-hound appeared on the scene, 
and laid his paws on the robber’s shoulders, and 
looked as though he would like to 

CONSUME HIM ON THE PREMISES. 

But the thief did not agree, and took to his heels. 

My friend caressed the hound, and took it to his 
house, but next morning nothing could persuade the 
animal to remain ; he left for home as soon as he had 
done his work. It turned out that he had come from 
a gentleman’s kennels. The walls were built high 
enough, it was thought, to keep the dogs in, but this 
one leaped over, and came to do the work which was 
needed. 

Let us make sure that we are heirs of heaven, and 
then not worry where or how the guardian angel shall 
come in. That will be managed at headquarters ; so 
on sea or land, in America or any other part of the 
world, the danger will bring the deliverer. 

It makes all the difference in the world whether we 
are God’s men or not. “The angel of God, whose I 
am and whom I serve,’’ said Paul. Can you say that? 

HISTORY IS RULED BY OWNERSHIP. 

Tell me whose name you bear, and I will tell your 
fortune. 

Do you see that master wheelwright? This morn- 
ing’s letters contain an order which has pleased him. 
Two wagons have been ordered; they are to be just 


40 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


alike. So he smiles as he thinks that he can get out 
all the lumber at the same time, and make a little extra 
profit. When they are finished, painted, and all com- 
plete, the foreman will say: 

“Master, what name are we to paint on these 
wagons? And which is which; for they are both alike, 
though you tell me they are not for the same man?” 

Ah, there comes the difficulty! As the master 
thinks, he scratches his head. 

“It doesn’t matter, Jem, which. Here are the two 
names and places, but I’m thinking, lad, of the differ- 
ence in these wagons after they leave my yard. One 
of them is for a miller, and the other for a brewer. 
One of them will carry food for man and beast, and it 
will leave gladness in its track. Many a hundred 
hungry folk in mansion and cot will be all the better 
for it. But the other will leave behind tears — and 
maybe — blood ; 

SORROW AND SHAME GO WHERE IT GOES!” 

Don’t you see that is a question of ownership after all? 
Paul was God’s man, and so the angel came aboard. 

The angel came to visit a prisoner. Paul is not now 
the blessed evangelist, upon whose lips the disciples 
hang with delight. He had given advice at the begin- 
ning of the voyage, but no one took any notice of a 
man who was on his way to be tried. However, if the 
Roman officer did not know the rank of his prisoner, 
God did. He had a great deal of work for Paul to do 
yet, and so it was all in vain that the Prince of the air 
had tried to drown him. An angel is sent off to tell 
the servant of God that he must not fear; 


HOW AN ANGEL CAME ABOARD 


41 


HE WAS PLANNED TO PREACH AT ROME, 

and his Master meant him to keep his appointment, 
whatever men or devils had arranged differently. 

ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT DESTROY MERIT. 

Paul was God’s man, though compelled to share the 
fate of prisoners. The same postman calls at the cot- 
tage and the mansion. Telegraph messengers are not 
kept for the convenience of the aristocracy. Any- 
body’s money will send a wire, and the messenger will 
carry the yellow envelope to a man in the slums. 

I don’t know what part of the ship was the prisoner’s 
quarters, but the angel knew ; and whether you are in 
the drawing-room or the kitchen, the private office or 
the packing- room, a bank or a bake-house, heaven’s 
messenger will come to the heaven-bound. Make sure 
that you are God’s servant, and 

THE ANGEL WILL KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE BETTER THAN 
THE POSTMAN. 

Angels come with God's cheer . 

“Fear not, Paul,’’ said he, “thou must be brought 
before Caesar.’’ 

The preacher was booked through, and though he 
had to “change here,’’ it was but a change of plat- 
forms, not of destination. God’s purposes concerning 
His own will be carried out, and though we cannot see 
how, we ought to be cheerful. 

We shall see in the next chapter how it came to pass 
that Paul was not drowned, and in the meantime, let 
us who are God’s children sing and be glad. Look at 


42 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


thy ticket, and if it says “Paradise,” leave the details 
of the journey, and think of those whom thou art going 
to see ! 


TUNNELS ARE PART OF THE LINE, 

but the rails are laid right through, and if God sends 
us into darkness, He will bring us into the light. You 
may come out very slowly, and the light may seem to 
be very dim when it does begin to be light. Mark 
you, it is not the twilight of the evening, but the twi- 
light of the morning of the day where night shall never 
come! 


HOW WE WENT ASHORE ON A PLANK 
(Acts xxvii.) 

We were not drowned, after all, though it looked 
very likely; and I will tell you how it came about. 
You see that Missionary Paul was sent to Rome by 
God, and not by the emperor. I fancy a great number 
of kings and statesmen think they are doing things, 
and all the time they are but tools in God’s hands, and 
no more accomplish things than a plane and saw can 
make a table or a chair. But it looked as though we 
should go to the bottom, though Paul had told the cap- 
tain that we should all land safe enough. The sea 
raged as though it meant to swallow us up, and we had 
every one given up hope, except Paul and those of us 
who believed what he said. 

However, after a fortnight of misery, we got into 
soundings. The sailors told us that we were getting 
near to land, for it was about twenty fathoms deep. 
Then it got to fifteen fathoms; so for fear that we 
should go ashore in the dark, we anchored, and then 
longed that daylight would appear. The sailors were 
a cowardly lot, not like men that follow the sea as a 
rule ; they are brave fellows, who don’t turn their backs 
on duty because there is danger. But these men had 
planned to get away, and had lowered a boat, telling 
us that they meant to anchor at the bows as well as the 
stern; but Paul told the soldiers, “You cannot be 
saved if you let these men go,” so the officer gave the 

43 


44 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


word, and the soldiers took their swords and cut the 
ropes and let the boat drift, so that the sailors had to 
stop and share our fate. 

I liked that; Paul was not a reckless man, who, 
having God’s promise, took no heed to His ways, so I 
learned that 

PREDESTINATION DOES NOT BEGET PRESUMPTION. 

If men are among the elect of God, they will not 
despise the means of grace. When you see a man let 
the dust lie on his Bible and give up prayer, you may 
look out to see him fall away. Paul had the promise 
of salvation, and therefore kept the sailors in the ship. 

Just then the day began to break, and Paul tried to 
make the sun rise in our hearts as well as in the 
heaven, for he spoke up and said : 

“You had better have something to eat, for,” said 
he, “you won’t be lost; you won’t lose so much as a 
hair out of your heads. ’ ’ 

And then he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and gave 
God thanks that there was food to eat, and then he 
began to eat himself. What could we do but follow 
his example? And so we had a good meal. 


CHEERFULNESS IS CATCHING. 

It seems to me that good people ought to be happy, 
and then they may infect some one else in the same 
way. If a man has God’s promise to fall back on, 
he should not look like a bankrupt ! 

By this time we could see the land. The sailors did 
not know it, but they felt that we must get a bit nearer 
to it, so they took up the anchors and hoisted the 


HOW WE WENT ASHORE ON A PLANK 


45 


mainsail. We could not have done this, so we were 
glad that we had not let the sailors go. 

After a while we got aground, but the sea was so 
rough that the ship began to go to pieces. Her bows 
were hard and fast aground, but her stern went to 
pieces. What was to be done? Those Roman soldiers 
were not very merciful, and began to talk of killing the 
prisoners! You see, they knew they would have to 
give an account to the government if they reached 
Rome, and, if they had cut our throats, they could 
have said that we had not escaped, and that they 
knew the last of us. But 

IT PAYS TO BE IN GOOD COMPANY. 

The officer had taken a liking to Paul, and who could 
help it? Besides, brave men know their own sort; 
they don’t see too many of them, and so the soldiers 
were told to leave us alone and give us a chance. 

It was a trying time. The ship groaned and trem- 
bled, and kept bumping on the rocks, while the wind 
blew and the breakers roared upon the shore ; but high 
above the storm we heard the voice of the officer of 
the troops crying out : 

“Whoever can swim, get over the side and make for 
the land, and those of you who cannot swim, take hold 
of a plank or a bit of the wreck, and do your best to 
save your lives!” We shall never forget that morn- 
ing as long as we live. It did not look as though any 
of us could get to land, but we did, somehow. We 
saw some of the men swim through the breakers, and 
others, holding on to pieces of the ship, after a great 
deal of tossing, reached the shore. This encouraged 
the rest of us, and so, one by one, we ventured, and 


46 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


got to land half dead with cold and fatigue ; but land 
is better than shipboard in a storm ! We soon revived, 
for the natives, though they could not help us to get to 
land, made us very welcome. We found, when we 
got to land, there was a fire lighted, so we were soon 
warm and dry again. 

It was a wonderful thing that had happened ! All 
told, there were 276 souls aboard — soldiers, sailors, 
and prisoners — and when we counted all who got to 
land there was not one missing. You may be sure 
Paul was the happiest of us all. It gave him a grand 
chance to show that Jehovah is a God worth serving, 
and that Jupiter and all the rest of the Roman idols 
were helpless in a storm. If ever I have to go to sea 
again, may I have one of the servants of Jesus Christ 
aboard ; especially if he is a man sent on a particular 
errand, for then I shall know 

NO STORM CAN HINDER GOD’S BUSINESS. 

The only ones in the company that looked at all 
downhearted were the sailors. Just to think that if it 
had not been for Paul they would have left us to 
perish, and now we were all ashore, and, that with- 
out a boat! But then I expect the angels had been 
busy. We hadn’t seen them, but most likely they had 
held the bits of wreck, and steered them to land. We 
should never have all got to land if we had not been 
helped! Cowards cannot sink those whom Heaven 
has sworn to save, but they will look ashamed even 
when they are safe. Let us, then, be brave enough 
to believe in God; then, come storm or sunshine, we 
shall be well off. For those whom God promises to 
keep may laugh at the storm ! 


THE BATTLE AMONG THE BARLEY 


(II Samuel xxiii. 9, io and I Chronicles xi. 12-14.) 

There was a man child born the day that Eleazar 
came into the world. It is not every male who de- 
serves to be called a man, but the son of Dodo was one, 
every inch of him. He lived in times when men 
were needed, for the Philistines kept things lively by 
reason of the fact that they preferred to steal corn 
rather than raise it. It was very hard on a farmer, 
to plough his land and put the seed in, and then, about 
the time of harvest, to have the enemy come and carry 
away the ripe corn. 

And it is hard for parents and teachers to have the 
result of all their toil wasted by the spoiler taking 
away the young people. Drunkenness, gambling, and 
impurity are the Philistines of to-day, who like to 
steal the products of our homes and schools. We need 
men like Eleazar, who was with David when the foe 
had come across the border to plunder the villages. 
He and another stood by the son of Jesse when all the 
others ran away, and he fought till his hand clave to 
his sword. Let us be like this patriot, who was 

WORTHY OF THE NAME HE BORE. 

He was called The Lord is Helper. 

It would never have done for such a man to be 
found running away. That would indeed be a satire 

47 


48 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


on the God he worshiped. Fancy how the folk would 
have sneered if Eleazar had turned tail! And shall 
we forget that we are called Christians? God forbid! 
Napoleon said at Waterloo that the English were 
beaten. Perhaps they were; but they never found 
it out, and have not to this day. And those of us who 
call ourselves after Jesus Christ should be ready to die 
with our face to the foe. And Christians don’t look 
well keeping ahead of their enemies, and turning a 
battlefield into a race-ground. 

Eleazar was worthy of his companions; “ he was 
with David." It is refreshing to a brave man to find 
that he has somebody near him who will not put him 
to shame. Jesse’s son must have blushed for the folks 
who fled before the Philistines; but Eleazar and the 
other mighty men were worthy to be linked with the 
slayer of Goliath. 

Let us see to it that our actions encourage all true- 
hearted men, and that we refuse to flee, even though 
our lives are at stake. As the hymn puts it, “Let 
courage rise with danger, ’ ’ and the enemy will realize 
the fact that the greater our peril the greater our 
pluck. 


WE MUST NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE FLIGHT OF OUR 
COMRADES. 

It is not every man that carries a weapon who has a 
soldier’s heart. Quite a number of those villagers 
dreaded their friends having the expense of a funeral, 
and therefore left the field as soon as danger showed 
itself. 

There is a great deal of this sort of thing going on 


THE BATTLE AMONG THE BARLEY 


49 


now, and the sympathy felt by some of Christ’s soldiers 
for their relatives prevents their remaining at their 
post the moment the fight begins. Do not be sur- 
prised, then, if you are left alone as soon as pain or 
shame becomes your lot. A review is all very well ; 
it gives a man the chance to wear his uniform, and 
march to the music of the band; but the battle is 
another thing altogether, and may mean wounds, or 
even death, and these are not in their programme! 
When reputation or fortune is at stake you will find 
that prudence will govern the conduct of the men who 
are not true-hearted. 

But 

DIFFICULTIES GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF DISTINGUISH- 
ING YOURSELVES. 

It is when others flee that the brave find honor. 
Eleazar would not have found his place in the record 
of brave deeds if he had not been left in such a 
minority. 

When our life is filled with hardships we have a 
chance of making a mark. Ease and luxury are poor 
paymasters, but poverty and peril give medals. Let 
us, when we are met by things which come to hinder, 
turn them into helpers. One of the most successful 
men I know, without meaning it, gave me the secret 
of his great triumph when he said: “If a difficulty 
comes before me, I say, what advantage can I get out 
of this trouble?” And just as Samson found honey 
in the skeleton of the lion he slew, my friend wins his 
honor where his enemies place embarrassment. 

How true it is that 


50 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


VALOR WINS god’s HELP ! 

It was when Eleazar fought till his hand clave to his 
sword that Jehovah gave him a great victory. 

COWARDS ARE SATIRIZED BY GOD. 

It provokes a smile to read: “ The people returned 
after him only to spoil." When it was safe to come 
back to the battlefield, then the peasants crowded 
round to see what could be picked up. It was easy to 
take dead men’s swords, and to rifle the pockets of the 
slain. There would be plenty of armor to be bought 
for the price of old metal, and none of the money 
found its way into the purse of Eleazar. If you fight 
their battle and win the day, there will be no lack of 
crowing on the part of those who, when the battle 
raged, were unseen. 

What a number of people are willing to 

PROFIT BY RELIGION, 

but not to lose anything for it! Crowds to crow over 
a victory, but not to suffer to win it. The insignifi- 
cant are always in the majority; but the men and 
women who make history romantic and picturesque 
are but few. 

It is true of struggling as of praying: “Where two 
or three are gathered together in My name, there I am 
in the midst.’’ The three men who preferred to bum 
rather than to bow found this to be true ; and so in all 
ages to come, the men who are prepared to die, if 
needs be, will win a record ‘n the history of valor and 
be crowned with a fadeless wreath, when the jeweled 
crown of earth melts in the fire that shall consume 
the universe. 


HOW THE QUEEN BEAT THE COURTIER 

The story of Esther goes to show that Providence is 
never so wide-awake as when it seems to be asleep, 
and that a woman’s beauty may be more powerful 
than a tyrant’s malice. Queen Esther must have 
been very attractive, for she was called by the 
Hebrews, Myrtle, and by the Persians, The Star. For 
some weeks, however, 

SHE HAD BEEN ECLIPSED, 

for it had come to pass that the king had not desired 
her beauty. 

In the meantime the plot had been formed to 
destroy her countrymen and women. But then Ham an 
never knows what the future has up its sleeve. 
There were two things which, if he had known, would 
have caused him to pause before he had sought the 
lives of the Jews: the fact that Queen Esther was a 
daughter of Abraham, and that the king was indebted 
to Mordecai for salvation from assassination. 

We may not admire the patriotic courage which has 
made the neck of Mordecai so stiff when in the pres- 
ence of Haman, for bow he would not, cost it what it 
might. It may not have been prudent, but neither 
Esther nor the Jews say a word against him, and 
doubtless his countrymen were pleased that there was 
at least one man of their nation who preferred to brave 
the anger of their hereditary foe rather than make 

51 


52 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


obeisance to one whose power was only equaled by 
his wealth, and who hated every mother’s son of them. 

The queen had been told of the dreadful plot which 
would destroy herself as well as the other Jews, and 
at Mordecai’s suggestion she set her woman’s wits to 
work to try to baffle the enemy of her race. First and 
foremost, she bade her countrymen to humble them- 
selves before God, as she herself did, and then she 
prepared herself for the task of winning the king. It 
was a woman’s face against a tyrant’s hand, and, as 
we know, beauty won. 

The law of the land was that no one should dare to 
go into the presence of the king unasked ; this was a 
great preservative against the assassin’s dagger, for 
it was easy for the king to make a sign, and the in- 
truder was slain. In going into the presence of the 
king without being invited, the queen risked her life, 
but then 

DESPERATION WAS BETTER THAN DESPAIR. 

She would be murdered if she lingered, so she felt it 
was worth the risk she ran, for she should save her 
own life as well as the lives of thousands. 

We read, “On the third day Esther put on her royal 
apparel.” Never had a woman a better right to use 
her mirror. She did well to take pains with her 
dress. Her face was her fortune, and the good-luck 
of her people. 

I should like to have seen her as she drew aside the 
curtain and passed before the king. He was helpless 
in the presence of her beauty, and promised her any 
boon she liked to ask. Confident in her power, she 


HOW THE QUEEN BEAT THE COURTIER 


53 


delayed to tell her story, and contented herself with 
the modest request that the king and Haman would do 
her the honor to come to a banquet she had prepared. 

And when the pair of silly men came to eat and 
drink, all the wages she would take was a promise that 
they would come again on the morrow; and at that 
banquet the king should hear what was the boon the 
beauteous queen desired. 

Alas for Haman! These honors turned his head, 
and he went home to cackle before his wife and 
friends how distinguished he had become ! But as he 
went out of the gate, there stood the Jew erect and 
unsubdued, though sentenced with all his nation to a 
violent death; and so we find him saying, as he 
reviews his wonderful good fortune : 

“All this availeth me nothing so long as I see 
Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 

Zeresh, his wife, little knowing that she was order- 
ing her widow’s weeds, said: 

“Let a gallows be made for Mordecai.” 

So Haman ordered the gallows, not foreseeing who 
was to be the first man to be hung thereon. 

It was now time for retribution to be awakened from 
slumber. The hour had arrived for Haman ’s discom- 
fiture. Therefore we read, “On that night could not 
the king sleep”; and so, perhaps in the hope of being 
read to drowsiness, he sent for the story of his reign, 
and to his surprise, heard that he had been saved from 
the murderer’s dagger by a Jew. No wonder that he 
asked what had been the reward bestowed upon the 
man who had saved him. When he was told, he 
inquired who was the noble in attendance, that he 
might speedily send him to show his savior that he 


54 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


was grateful. And there, like a cat watching a 
mouse-hole, was Haman, waiting to get the chance to 
ask that Mordecai might be handed over to him to 
dangle on the gallows ! 

Instead of leading the Jew to execution, Haman 
had to do him honor, and became his escort, calling 
on the people to admire the savior of their king. 
When this weary task had been performed, he hastened 
home in despair, and while telling the dreadful story, 
was waited upon by the king’s chamberlain to hurry 
him to the banquet. 

HE WOULD HAVE A POOR APPETITE, 

but he would have enjoyed the viands still less if he 
had known that Esther and Mordecai were relatives. 

The king was anxious to know what petition the 
beauteous woman had to ask. When he pressed her 
to speak, he was told that she wished to beg the lives 
of her countrymen and women, who had been treach- 
erously sold to death by the foe of her race. 

Angrily the monarch asked who had presumed to 
do this cruel deed? 

He was told that Haman was the wretch who had 
designed the wrong. 

The king rose abruptly and went into the garden, 
while Haman begged for pity; but Esther’s time had 
come, and she must save the life of her race at the 
cost of Haman’s death. When the king came back 
he fancied that the courtier was abusing his privilege, 
and desired to assault the queen ! When the servants 
saw the king’s anger they threw a napkin over 
Haman’s face. But he could hear the monarch being 


HOW THE QUEEN BEAT THE COURTIER 


55 


told of the new gallows on which Mordecai was to 
swing. “Just in time,” was the king’s thought, and 
so Haman was dragged to where the carpenters had 
just finished their work. 

“So they hanged Haman,” and the queen won, and 
so saved her own life, and the lives of all her people. 


THE MAN WHO TURNED OUT BETTER 
THAN HIS MOTHER EXPECTED 


(I Chronicles iv. 9, 10.) 

They don’t always, do they? We have known some 
boys and girls whose mother thought they were swans, 
but they were only geese ! This lad, however, made a 
great deal more out than his mother thought he would, 
or she could not have called him Jabez — that is, 
“Sorrowful.” 

We don’t know why she called him by that name. 
It may be that his father had been killed in the wars 
before he was born, and so he was made a memory 
of the evil time, by the name he went by. 

But Sorrowful would not be kept down by his name ; 
he soon made it clear that he ought to have had 
another name. I expect he won all the prizes at 
school, and when he was old enough, buckled on his 
father’s sword and made the Philistines know the 
nearest way home. I think I can see him carried 
home shoulder-high, while the welkin rings with the 
shouting : 

“Hurrah for Sorrowful!” 

The neighbors would come into the old farmhouse 
saying: “Well, mistress, your Sorrowful has done it 
again! He has driven back the foe, and delivered 
his country once more!” 

Wouldn’t his mother kiss him and cry: “Eh, but 
56 


TURNED OUT BETTER THAN EXPECTED 


57 


if I had but known, I would have called thee 
Honorable.” 

Ah, but don’t we often call things by their wrong 
names? We are in such a hurry. We do not give God 
time to finish His work. I read in St. James: “Ye 
have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the 
end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful and of 
tender mercy.” Very, very few of us have waited to 
see the end. We call things Sorrowful which ought to 
have been called Honorable. 

Like that other mother, who gave birth to a child 
just after she heard that she was a widow, and then 
there came evil tidings worse to bear, for they seemed 
to widow the country. The ark of God was taken by 
the Philistines, and so she said : 

“Call my son The Glory is Gone!” 

If she had but seen the end, and how Dagon was 
broken before the ark of the Lord, she would not have 
broken her heart and handicapped the lad all his life 
by giving him such a name. Let us wait before we 
give the thing a name. 

DOUGH WILL BE BREAD 

if we give it time. 

The question arises, how did Sorrowful become 
Honorable? And the answer is, he prayed. He 
wished to get on in the world, and he took God into 
his confidence. He did not wish to succeed without 
God, and he wished to be kept from sin. 

“Keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me,” 
said he. 

There is a Jabez now in jail who might have been 


58 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


honorable if he had not wished to get on at any cost. 
Sin will bring us sorrow and not honor, though it may 
bring pleasure or gain at the first ; but tears and grief 
are part of the ship’s lading if God does not charter 
the vessel. 

I remember names in the roll of merchant princes 
which have come to dishonor and shame all because 
God was not in their thoughts; and I remember 
names of lads who were poor and lived in lowly dwell- 
ings, and now they are among the honorable, because 
they laid themselves out to do that which was right, 
and were more intent on pleasing God than making 
money. 

Perhaps some one may read this who desires to get 
on, but in spite of all his efforts things go wrong, 
and he is poor, and likely to be poor. Let me ask 
you, Have you done as Sorrowful did, — called on the 
God of Israel? 

Sorrowful wanted to feel the hand of God. He was 
not afraid of the restraint of Divine law. Did you 
ever hear of the kite which thought the string hindered 
it from rising, and never ceased to tug at it till the 
twine parted, and away went the kite, not up, but 
down, and pitched in a high tree, where the wind and 
rain left but the skeleton of its past self? Perhaps 
some of my readers may be told by some one older 
than themselves: 

“I wouldn’t be tied to my mother’s apron-string as 
thou art.” 

It is God that has tied that knot! Death will cut the 
band all too soon. Don’t break it, for thy safety is 
in the restraint which binds thee to thy mother’s heart! 

“Enlarge my coast,” but don’t lift Thy hand away. 


TURNED OUT BETTER THAN EXPECTED 


59 


Make me rich and powerful, but keep me loyal to 
Thee. Let my reverence for God and good things 
grow with my prosperity. If I am to be great in the 
sight of others, make me to know my littleness in Thy 
sight. “How hardly shall they that have riches enter 
into the kingdom of God!” But we may keep lowly 
before the Lord, and so use our wealth or power as to 
make our heaven the greater by our balance at the 
bank and our usefulness in this world. 


HOW THE WOLF BECAME A SHEPHERD 


(Acts ix.) 

You will not know me, though I daresay you have 
heard of me. My name is Ananias, of Damascus. I 
was the principal man in the early church in our city. 
Being a Christian, like others, I was made to dread the 
name of Saul of Tarsus. He was the chief enemy of 
Christianity, and after the death of Stephen, made 
himself a terror to all the followers of Jesus. 

We heard that we might see him any day, and were 
much concerned to learn that he had made up his 
mind 

TO WORRY THE FLOCK OF GOD. 

I did not fear him for myself, but I had children 
who were among the disciples of Christ, and I was at 
times in great trouble lest some of these should not be 
able to bear up on the day of trial. We had heard 
that this wolf had so worried Christ’s sheep that some 
of them had been compelled to blaspheme His Name. 
This seemed worse than death to me, and I was in 
great fear lest some of the little ones should be over- 
come. 

One day I met one of the rabbis in our city. He had 
shown himself to be one of our most bitter foes, and 
when we had heard he was gone to Jerusalem, we 
were afraid that he meant having an interview with 
Saul and would invite him here. When he saw me 

60 


HOW THE WOLF BECAME A SHEPHERD 


61 


HIS EYES FLASHED WITH RAGE, 

and stopping me on the road, he said, 

“Thy life is not worth a shekel. In a few days 
thou wilt be in Gehenna. ’ * 

I knew what he meant, so I called our little band 
together and said : 

“We have come to evil times. The foe of God will 
soon be here, and we shall become his victims. But 
there is a God who is stronger than our enemies. ‘He 
is our refuge and strength, therefore we will not 
fear.’ ” 

We then gave ourselves to prayer, and I could not 
but be struck with the way some of the lambs of the 
flock prayed for Saul. They cried unto the Lord in 
their trouble, and He comforted their hearts. Some 
of them were bold enough to pray that their enemy 
might be won over to the side of Jesus. I am 
ashamed to say that I had not faith enough to say 
Amen ! 

The news came to us very soon after that Saul had 
obtained authority from the chief priest to bring us, 
bound, to Jerusalem, and then we were told that he 
had asked that women might be named as well as 
men, for we had many sisters in our church. We 
were in great trouble, and I was in despair when I 
looked at the sweet maiden who called me father. 

One night, as I lay on my bed, I heard a voice more 
powerful, and yet more sweet, than any I had ever 
heard before, and I knew that, loud as it seemed to 
me, no one but myself could hear it, and that it was 
the voice of my Lord. He called me by name, and 
when I replied, He told me to 


62 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


GO TO STRAIGHT STREET 

and ask at the house of a man called Judas for Saul 
of Tarsus. 

“I tell thee, Ananias,” said He, “he is at prayer, 
and praying to the Nazarene whom he used to hate.” 

“Nay,” said I, “that cannot be. This man is our 
enemy. He has come to apprehend us. He is the 
chief persecutor of the truth, and has come to take me 
and mine in chains to Jerusalem.” 

“Not so,” said the Lord; and then He told me that 
our enemy was converted and wished for baptism. 

I hesitated no longer, but went right away and got 
to the house. 

When I inquired after their lodger, Judas said: “I 
am glad thou hast come, for he is in sore need. He 
is in great trouble, is this Saul. He is blind, and 
must be faint, for 

IT IS DAYS SINCE HE TASTED FOOD.” 

Strange to say, all my fear and anger were gone, 
and I felt nothing but love for the man who I 
dreaded would destroy our little church, and perhaps 
cause some of our little band to make shipwreck of 
their faith. As I looked on him I could see the marks 
of great suffering; he had gone through a fierce 
conflict, and looked wan and worn. 

I said: “Brother Saul, the Lord who met thee 
on the way has sent me to open thine eyes and to 
baptize thee in His Name.” I then baptized him and 
saw the change which came. His eyes were opened, 
and his heart was filled with joy in God. I found him 


HOW THE WOLF BECAME A SHEPHERD 


63 


a scholar and a divine already, and very soon, with 
me, he searched the Scriptures and saw all over the 
book he had always loved that Jesus of Nazareth was 
the very Christ. 

He did not wait, but at once began to preach in the 
Name of Jesus. Crowds came to hear, but none 
could reply to him, and soon we had a large number 
added to our church, and it was delightful to see how 
zealous and useful the new disciple was. We loved 
him, and that all the more because we had feared him 
so much. It was a beautiful illustration of the words 
of the prophet, Instead of the thorn shall come up the 
fir tree. 

The Jews were more angry than ever, and very soon 
we heard whispers that the life of our friend was in 
danger. Aretas, the governor of the city, was an 
enemy to God, and was only too glad to join with the 
Jews to put to death the man who had done such 
great deeds by his preaching. 

One of our number had seen the apostles in Jeru- 
salem, and had heard them say that the Lord Jesus 
had told them, while still in their midst, that when 
the days of trouble came, they that were persecuted in 
one city should flee to another. So we told our friend 
that he should not remain but flee for his life. 

This was a sore trouble to Saul, for he loved us and 
wished to remain with us. “Yet,” he said, “the 
Lord has told me that He means to use me to do great 
things in His name among the heathen.” 

We tried to get him away, but found that the gov- 
ernor had given a band of armed men to the Jews, and 
that some of these were at every gate, so that if he left 
us they would follow him and slay him on the road. 


64 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


But some of his own converts lived in a house on the 
wall, and got him to spend a little time with them, and 
one night they opened the casement which was on the 
wall and 

LOWERED HIM DOWN IN A BASKET, 

and so he got away. Since then we have heard that 
he has become the most famous of all the shepherds 
of Jesus, and that he is never weary in caring for the 
flock of God, whom He redeemed with His own blood. 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


“Then they said one to another, We do not well: 
this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our 
peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mis- 
chief will come upon us: now therefore, come, that we 
may go and tell the king’s household.” — II Kings vii. 9. 

These words carry our attention to a time of great 
affliction and national sorrow. By reason of the sins 
of the people, God brought upon them some of the 
terrible judgments which had been prophesied in the 
days of Moses, and the city of Samaria was sur- 
rounded by an army which allowed none to go in or 
come out. Consequently very soon their provisions 
were all exhausted, and hunger and death by starva- 
tion stared them in the face. 

Now, outside the city, just as you might see outside 
the great towns in Africa, were the little huts in 
which the lepers dwelt. Outside of these great towns, 
some of which I have visited, you may see little huts 
in which the poor creatures live who never more can 
mix with their kind. Shut out from any human 
friendship, shut out very largely from human sym- 
pathy, these poor creatures, who had always depended 
upon the hands of charity, were worse off than they 
had ever been before. When there was famine in the 
city it was not likely that much bread would find its 
way to these poor wretches, and it is with their 
adventures I have to deal in this chapter. 

65 


66 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


There were four of them. Something happened to 
them, and I think it would be just as well if we were 
to ask each of these men to tell us his tale. Let us 
invite them to tell us the things they would like us to 
learn ; each one of these four shall tell us what he 
thinks we ought to learn from this story. 

Now I will ask this first one to come up and tell us 
all about it. What would you like us to learn from 
what happened to you outside Samaria? 

“Well,” says the first one, “I should like everybody 
to learn this — that desperation is better than despair. 
We were dying. Nothing could save us. We 
scarcely had had anything to eat for many a day, and 
I said to these other fellows, ‘Look here, we are going 
to die. Nothing in the world can save us if we sit 
where we are. No help can come to us from the 
city; that is certain. If we were to go in, nobody 
would give us anything. Suppose we try what the 
enemy will do. Let us fall to the Syrians, let us go 
and see these soldiers who have come against our 
town. They can only kill us. We can only die once. 
Let us go and see what they will do. ’ And so we 
all four went, and instead of being killed, we found 

FOOD AND LIFE. 

I want everybody to learn that if you are in a difficulty 
and you are environed by that which looks as though 
it would threaten your existence, do not be afraid of 
anything; look the evil in the face, for desperation is 
better than despair. We found life in the very place 
where we feared that death would wait us.” 

Well, I am inclined to think that this is good, sound 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


67 


doctrine, and that this leper is worth listening to ; and 
if I am speaking to men or women or children who are 
in any kind of difficulty, the best thing they can do is 
to know the worst. Come and look at it, and see 
what is the worst thing that can happen to you! I 
have sometimes said to a boy who was in trouble with 
his schoolmaster: 

“Go and tell him. Hold up and get your licking, 
and say nothing more about it. You will find he is 
very much better to you than all you fear. ’ ’ 

It is sound doctrine to know the worst. I do not 
know whom I may be talking to, but if there is a man 
listening to me who has a financial difficulty before 
him, I say : 

“Look your creditors up. Do not wait for them to 
look you up. It is far better to pay 75 cents of the 
dollar to-day than pay 25 cents three years hence.” 

Get to know the worst ; face it out ! And especially 
is this true if there is somebody listening to me who 
remembers the sins of his life and is 


AFRAID OF THE JUDGMENT DAY. 

These are the days of redemption, not the days of 
judgment. Come to the Christ while He sits upon 
the Throne of Grace. It is true we have offended 
God; it is true we have broken His command- 
ments; it is true that we have brought upon our- 
selves condemnation; but Jesus Christ died for sinners, 
and Jesus Christ is waiting now to receive us and to 
bless us. Fall to the Syrians! Come to the One you 
have offended; come and tell Him all about it! 

Some of you are familiar with the story of John 


68 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


Bunyan. Others of you, perhaps, do not know that 
that part of the Pilgrim’s Progress which he calls “the 
Valley of the Shadow of Death’’ was a part he lived in 
for several years. He lived in the gloom and terrors of 
that awful state. After he became a preacher he was 
overwhelmed with thoughts as to his future, tempted 
to believe that he had sinned away his day of grace. 
Satan whispered to him, ‘ ‘ Behold, thou art not one of 
the elect and thou art sure to perish’’; and he said, 
“I will preach like one in chains.’’ But nobody could 
stop him preaching. Like another John the Baptist, 
wherever he went he made sinners to tremble, as he 
spoke to them of the certainty of punishment if they 
failed to repent; and all the time he was being perse- 
cuted, and there were times when they threatened to 
put him to death. 

Once they had brought him out of prison, that mis- 
erable damp hole where he spent so many weary days 
and nights, and the magistrate asked him, “If we let 
you go will you cease to preach?” He replied, “If you 
send me back to jail I will stop there until the moss 
grows on my eyebrows, and when I get out I will 
preach.’’ Yet this was a time of great darkness and 
misery, but he felt the call to preach, and he tells us 
how there came upon him this terrible trial. The 
enemy said, “We will hang thee, we will stop thy 
preaching with the rope’’; and he said, “I can fancy 
myself on the gallows’’ — that old primitive gallows, 
two upright posts and one across, and a rope hanging 
down with a noose at the end, and two ladders, one 
up which the culprit went and one up which the execu- 
tioner went. He could see that before him, and he 
said, “I felt that rope around my neck.’’ Satan said, 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


G9 


“When thou jumpest into eternity, I shall have thee”; 
and he said: “Just then, when Satan was telling 1 me 
I was such a fool to go on preaching, and that he 
would have me in the end, I fancied the rope round 
my neck and myself 

ABOUT TO JUMP INTO ETERNITY, 

and I heard Jesus Christ saying, ‘Come unto Me; him 
that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out. ’ And 
I said, ‘Lord, when I jump into eternity, I will jump 
towards Thee; if thou dost catch me, well; but 
whether Thou catch me or not, I will jump towards 
Thee.’ ” That broke the snare, and his heart was 
made happy in his God. 

And I say to you, “Fall to the Syrians!” Despera- 
tion is better than despair! Know the worst of it! 
Come to God, come to Him, and I dare stake my 
crown that He receives thee, and blesses thee, and 
makes thee glad and ready to dance for joy. 

Now we will have number two up. Now, tell us, 
sir, what it was you learned. We were very pleased to 
hear what number one said, but how did it strike you? 

“Oh,” he says, “ I quite agree with what my friend 
says, but he has not said it all. There is something 
which had struck me in quite a different way. I will 
tell you how it occurred to me ; and I should like to 
tell you to learn this lesson — Make the most of your 
chances. You will read in your Bible that we did eat, 
and we did , sir. You know we had not had a straight 
feed for many a month, and when we went to the 
camp we crept away very slowly, as we were very 
much afraid lest those Syrians should come upon us 


70 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


and destroy us. We crept along, and stopped and 
listened, and I said, ‘I can hear naught.’ My com- 
panion said ‘There are some horses neighing, and their 
poor relations are talking, too, but I cannot hear any 
human voice.’ Se we went on a bit further, and 
there was a tent, and we looked in, and there was a 
table spread. We had not time to stop to ask a 
blessing; we did eat. We had a chance, and we did 
the very best thing we could. Then we went to 
another tent and there was something else.” 

Yes, this is what he learned! And that is what 
I would have you learn — 

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES, 

whatever they may be, all round, in every part of 
your life. 

Make the most of the opportunities you possess, get 
all you can out of that which is before you. For 
instance, supposing every father and mother said : 

“I am going to get all the happiness I can out of my 
children. I am not going to wait until they grow up 
— I may not live until then; but I will get all the 
enjoyment out of teaching them, I will get all that is 
possible while I train them. I will look upon every 
child I have as one of God’s opportunities, and I will 
see how happy I can make my boys and girls.” 

Why, that is what a man should do. A man should 
say: 

‘‘I am not going to fret because there is another 
mouth to feed. I will thank God I have a chance of 
keeping a child from being hungry. I will have to 
work harder and work longer. ’ ’ 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


71 


I do not know anything more beautiful in this 
world than to see some little boys who think their 
father the finest man in this world. You can see, in 
some little cottage, John and James waiting for their 
father to come home from work, and John says: 

4 ‘ Mother, when is it six o’clock? It seems a long time 
to six o’clock.” 

“Oh,” she says, “it will soon be six o’clock”; and 
then she says, “Now you can go and take your little 
brother,’’ and you see them going down the street 
looking for this great, strong, and healthy working 
man. By-and-by they see him, and they run down, 
and he puts his basket of tools down to take hold of 
them. 

When I see a sight like that, I think to myself, even 

IF I WERE AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN 

I would wish to be a man and have boys like these! 
My father and my mother went on this principle, and 
tried to make their children as happy as they could 
possibly be. And they succeeded! My father is 
living now. He is a very old man, and he is my 
patron saint. I owe everything I have in the world 
to my father and mother. They did their very 
utmost to make their children feel that the smoke out 
of our chimney was better than the attractions of the 
saloon. 

Make the most of it! They did eat! Whatever 
comes in your way make the most of it. Make the 
most out of your church life. Make the most out of 
your prayer-meeting. Make the most out of your 
public services. Make the most out of your 


72 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


class-meeting. If you want to make a class-meeting a 
joyful place, do something to make other folks happy 
every day, and you will want to go to class to tell 
people how full of joy your soul is. For instance, why 
should not a working-man, or a business man, 

GET ALL THE PLEASURE POSSIBLE 

out of his business? 

I remember once sitting by the bedside of a dying 
man. He was an old man, and a man who had had to 
do with the building of hundreds of cottages ; he was a 
slater and plasterer. He said to me in his own 
strong words': 

“Mr. Champness, as I lie here, I am happy. Many 
a time in the middle of the night, when it is raining 
and blowing, I lie awake, and I am happy, because I 
think there are many hundred people lying warm and 
dry because I did my work well. ’ ’ 

When a man looks at things in that light and deter- 
mines to see how much pleasure he can get out of his 
work, it is well with him. I like to hear nursemaids 
talk about “My baby,” just as I like to hear a plough- 
man talk about “My horses.” When my boy is at 
business I like to hear him talk about “Our office” and 
“Our shop”; he has a pleasure in making the thing 
go. Life is not such a drudgery when you are deter- 
mined to get all the pleasure you can out of it. 

Look at yonder blacksmiths! They are making a 
great chain which belongs to an anchor. When the 
chain is made, it will become part of the furniture of 
a great ship. Those blacksmiths did not spare their 
labor or their strength ; they toiled to make a chain in 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


73 


which every link should be made as good as it possibly 
could be, as good as hammer and fire could make it. 
The ship is coming home; the ship is caught in a 
storm ; the storm is blowing them on the land in spite 
of all they can do. They can hear the breakers. 
Another three miles, and they will be on the rugged 
rocks that stand up like the teeth of hell ! They are 
getting nearer. They have done all they can, and the 
old boatswain says: 

“Lads, it’s all up. We shall never see wife or 
child again. She is going!” 

The captain shouts, “There is one chance* stand 
by!’’ 

Then he thunders out, “Let go that anchor; stand 
by!” 

You hear the great iron tooth rush into the sea. It 
goes down to the bottom and takes hold of the ground 
and she swings to it. 

“Now,’’ the captain says, “everything depends on 
that chain, my lads. What sort of a blacksmith was 
it, think you, who made that chain? If he has not put 
good work in it, our wives will have to have a widow’s 
cap apiece.” 

The ship swings to it, the great wind hurls itself 
against her, but the good old chain hangs and stands, 
and she is all right; and you see that great rough 
mariner wipe the tear away and he says, “Thank God 
for a bit of honest work that some unknown black- 
smith did. ” 

THERE IS A POETRY IN DRUDGERY 

if men do it intending to make the world the better by 
it! Get all the pleasure you can out of your work, 


74 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


whatever it is! That is how I feel about preaching. 
I am always glad to come up the pulpit stairs, and I 
know that God will bless me and help somebody to go 
home with a lighter heart. I would not take five hun- 
dred thousand dollars a year to give up preaching, 
because of the pleasure and joy that I get in knowing 
very well that somebody’s heart will be lightened, and 
somebody will go home more resolute and strong to do 
his duty. Get all the pleasure you can out of your 
work! It is a good plan to make the most of your 
opportunities, and to go out into the Syrians’ camp if 
you have got a chance. 

We will now have number three up. Now, sir, you 
shall tell us what you learnt. 

He says: “I am very pleased with my mates; they 
have said something which is very nice ; but it struck 
me altogether different. While they were talking 
I thought, ‘What shall I say?’ and this occurred to me, 
that when we are doing well we should think of somebody 
else. I said to them, ‘This is a day of good tidings; 
we do not well. Here we are, eating and doing well. 
We have never had anything as good as this, but in the 
city they are dying of hunger. Look at all this pro- 
vision — many a load of corn and meal here, and 
yonder poor people dying. We must 

GO BACK AND TELL THE PEOPLE 

what has happened to us. Let us go and tell the 
king’s household.’ ” 

That is sound doctrine ! Why should not those of us 
who have received blessings from above make some- 
body else the happier and the richer by telling them 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


75 


the news which has made our hearts so glad? Why 
should we keep it to ourselves? 

That is the sort of thing we want to have in our 
hearts concerning those who are living without God, 
and I do bring before you those who are living evil 
lives, who are living in carelessness, living without God 
and without hope, and I pray you take their case into 
your consideration and see what you can do. Have 
you nobody you could speak to? Could you not say a 
word now and then? It may be in the train, it may be 
to some man that you meet in constant intercourse, 
and with whom you talk fluently enough on other 
things. Can you not say something to him about the 
love which made your soul so glad? 

Only about four miles from where I live, years ago 
there lived a wicked collier. He was a very wicked 
man — a drunkard, a gambler, and a swearer. He had 
two little girls. They were often wanting bread and 
were very badly off in many respects, and were 

GROWING UP LIKE HEATHENS. 

A woman lived hard by who was full of Christian 
love, and as she looked upon these little children her 
heart bled for them, and she said to their mother : 

“Why do not you let your little girls go to Sunday 
school?” 

“Nay,” said the mother; “not me; I’m not going to 
have my little girls laughed at because they have such 
poor clothes. They are not fit to go. Their father 
does not work half his time, and when he does do a 
bit of work he spends his money at the saloon ; he does 
not bring it home. I have no money to buy clothes 
for them.” 


76 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


This kind-hearted neighbor said, “Supposing I buy 
them a bit of print and make them a nice frock for Sun- 
days; would you let them go then?" 

And the mother replied, “I would just!” 

The kind neighbor made a little frock apiece for the 
children, and those two children went to Sunday 
school. I daresay the first Sunday they did not see 
anything but their clothes ; they were 

LIKE BIRDS WHO HAD MOULTED, 

and they admired themselves and one another. But 
in the course of two or three Sundays the discipline of 
the school and the gentle rule and beautiful way in 
which they were treated — somebody to shake hands 
with them, somebody to ask them how they were, 
things which never happened to them at home — and 
the kindness and gentleness of the teachers and super- 
intendent, so won them that they could not help but 
love the school. Little by little they began to find 
out the terrible difference between the Christians they 
met on Sunday and their own father and mother. 

One of those little girls made up her mind that she 
would witness for God, so the next time her father 
swore she said : 

“Dada, you shouldst not say that.” He looked at 
her a minute, and then said with a terrible oath that 
he wished her soul might be lost. He had no sooner 
said these profane words than she fell on her knees on 
the black floor, and said, “Oh, God, do not do what 
my father wants You to do; do not do it. He wants 
my soul to be lost, but I do not want my soul to be 
lost; I want my soul saved. Do not do as dada says.” 

Wicked as he was, it went to his very heart! The 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


77 


little bit of man left in him woke up as he heard the 
girl plead like that. He looked across to the wife and 
said: 

“Missus, where did she learn that?” 

She said “Sunday school” ; and he said, “If I am 
spared till Sunday I am going to Sunday school too. ” 

And next Lord’s day, with a little child in each 
hand, he went to the Sunday school himself, and he 
learnt his way to heaven, and lived a holy life. He 
is in heaven now, and his children are with him. It all 
came out of that woman feeling for those that were 
wanting the spiritual bread. 

Let us go and tell the king’s household; let us not 
keep the good news to ourselves! If we were mission- 
aries and went to India, we should have to learn a 
foreign language; but we can talk English, we can 
talk the language of the people about here, why should 
not we speak the words of God, and preach the Gospel 
in whatever place we are found? 

Now we will have up number four. Tell us as 
quickly as you can, what did you learn? 

He says: “I will tell you what I learned, sir; I 
learned the wisdom of listening to testimony. When 
we set off it was night, and everybody was gone to 
bed except the watchman. We beat at the gate and 
the watchman appeared. ‘Hello!’ said he. We 
replied, ‘We have been doing well!’ ‘Doing what?’ he 
asked. ‘Feasting,’ we said. He really had 

FORGOTTEN WHAT A FEAST MEANT. 

‘Where?’ he asked. ‘In the camp of the Syrians,’ we 
said. ‘Man, we have all four been there. There is 
nobody there. They have heard some kind of rumor, 


78 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


and they have all gone and left their provisions, and 
what the prophet said the other day will come to pass ; 
there shall be plenty of corn for everybody, and there 
will be a measure sold for very little.’ ‘But,’ he said, 
‘I can hardly believe it!’ ‘But we know it. We are 
well off. We have not done so well for many a 
month.’ He said, ‘You look as if you had had some- 
thing nice’; and we said, ‘We have done well!’ He 
said, ‘I will have the king awakened. ’ They awakened 
the king and said, ‘If you please, your majesty, there 
is plenty of food for everybody.’ He said, ‘What?’ 
And they said, ‘The Syrians have left the camp, and 
left all their provisions behind.’ The king said, ‘I 
doubt it ; it is some scheme, you know. They want to 
get us out, and when we get there, you know, the gates 
will be open, and they will come in and take the city. ’ 
By that time the news had spread, and when the king 
came out and said, ‘I do not like to trust these people,’ 
a man said, ‘Well, look at these horses; they are only 
frames; we shall lose naught if they never come back. 
Put a man on them, a thin man on these thin horses, 
and send him off.’ They put a poor, thin soldier on 
the horse, and away he went looking like 

DEATH ON HORSEBACK. 

He came back — it does not say he did, but very likely 
he had something to eat before he came back, and gave 
the horse a feed, too, if he was a man — he came back, 
and said it was so, and all the city poured out of the 
gate, and a measure of fine flour sold for very 
little.” 

That is the last lesson I want you to learn, 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


79 


THE WISDOM OF LISTENING TO TESTIMONY. 

If they had not believed this man, if they had not 
believed what the lepers said, they might have died as 
they were. 

I put it to you unconverted people whether there are 
not people whose word you would take in the matter of 
life and death? If they were brought before a court 
of justice, and had to give their evidence on a matter 
of life and death, you would feel that you need not 
have them sworn ; their word is good enough, and you 
would believe anything they said. Have not they told 
you what God has done for them? Have not they told 
you of the joy of salvation? Have not they told you of 
their gladness, of their safety, and of the delight they 
have of the heaven to which they are going? Why 
don’t you believe them? Why don’t you act as though 
you believed them? 

In a little, old-fashioned, country town there lived a 
man who never went to a place of worship. He got 
drunk one Sunday, and not knowing anything better 
he went to chapel — he would never have gone if he 
had been sober. He sat himself down, and the chapel- 
keeper did not want to let him stop; but the minister, 
being a man of wisdom, said : 

“You let him alone; he will do nobody any harm. 
Leave him where he is.” 

While he was there the holy influences of the place 
sobered him, and gradually he felt as he had never 
felt before. While the worship and the preaching was 
going on, his mind was getting clearer. After the serv- 
ice the minister said : 


80 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


“I want the Society Class to wait for the renewal of 
tickets. ’ * 

So the rest of the congregation went away, but the 
Society Class stayed behind, and this man also stayed 
in his place. 

The chapel-keeper said to him, “You must not stop 
now; this is a private meeting.” 

However, the minister interfered again, and said, 
“The man is doing no harm; let him stop.’’ 

The man sat on, and saw his old neighbors, people 
he had known all his life, people he thoroughly 
believed in and respected, tell of the wonders of God’s 
saving grace, and what it does in cheering and con- 
verting people, and it touched his heart. 

When the minister had gone through all the others 
and given their tickets, this man got up and said : 

“If you please, sir, I shall want one of those pieces 
of paper.” “Nay,” said the minister, “I cannot give a 
ticket to any one whose name is not in the class book.” 

“Then,” said the man, “put my name in the class 
book now. ’ ’ 

The minister, being a wise man, put down his name, 
and wrote him a ticket. When he got it, he said : 

‘ ‘ I shall want one for the old missus. ’ ’ 

The minister got the wife’s name and put it in the 
book, and gave him a ticket for his wife also. 

When the man got home he said to his wife, “Where 
do you think I’ve been?” 

“After no good, I know.” 

He said, “I’ve been to chapel.” She said, “I know 
what sort of chapel you’ve been to.” 

He replied, “I have become a member and joined^ 
and here is the paper. ’ ’ 


THE FOUR LEPERS 


81 


The woman had good sense to fall in with it and 
accept the situation, and the result was that that man 
and wife became like Zachariah and Elizabeth, who 
walked before God. 

That man had sense to believe the testimony of his 
neighbors, and I put it to you, that if you know either 
father or mother, brother or sister, neighbor or friend, 
who lives a holy life, take their testimony for what it 
is worth, and you will say that it was the wisest thing 
you ever did to believe those who themselves believed 
in God, 


THE TAKING OF AI 


(Joshua vii. and viii.) 

For more than forty years I had been a preacher 
before I made a sermon on this story, and why? 
Because the narrative of Achan’s treachery was such a 
tragedy. There is not a bright spot in it, and, to my 
thinking, to preach sermons where there is no bright 
spot is a mistake. But I have found out that I was 
fastening my eyes on the wrong picture. Achan is 
but one portrait; there are other men and other 
scenes to be looked upon. And, like everything 
where God comes in, it means victory for the good in 
the long run. 

As I read the story from beginning to end, I saw this 
lesson to begin with, 

GREAT MEN MAY MAKE BLUNDERS. 

Joshua was no ordinary man; he was one of those 
whom Providence trains for a great work. Called to 
take the place of Moses, he did his work like a man, 
and up to the place where Ai comes into the narrative 
Joshua did what was wise and good. He had the same 
authority for going against Ai that he had for the 
destruction of Jericho. But he made the mistake of 
going on without Divine help. We are all in danger 
of thinking we know all about it, and no man like he 
who is successful needs to pray, “Keep back thy 
servant also from presumptuous sins. ’ ’ 

82 


THE TAKING OF AI 


83 


When Joshua was told to conquer Jericho, he first of 
all reconnoitered the place, and we are told that while 
gazing upon the fortifications, he came upon a man 
with a drawn sword in his hand. He challenged him, 
and was told that he was in the presence of his supe- 
rior, and while bowed in reverence before the Com- 
mander of the host of God he was instructed as to the 
plan of campaign. Is it not a pity that Joshua did 
not follow the same track? We should stick to the 
things which succeed. If the son of Nun had gone to 
Ai to seek wisdom, he would have been saved from 
sorrow and shame ! 

We know what Joshua did. He sent men to spy on 
the situation, and followed human advice without 
seeking Divine help. It is a pity when we pick up 
copper when there is gold within reach, and that is 
what conferences and committees do when they plan 
instead of praying. One would have thought that 
Joshua had seen enough of spies in his time, and that 
he would not have made use of men’s eyes when he 
might have had the foresight of the Almighty to assist 
him. But then, great men make blunders. Perhaps 
it takes a very great man to make the worst of mis- 
takes, and it will be well for us to remember there is 
but one Being who is all-wise. 

We learn further that 

SMALL MEN MAY HARASS GREAT MEN. 

Achan was nothing compared to Joshua, but he placed 
his commander in a terrible difficulty. He had broken 
the law of God, and brought disgrace and defeat upon 
Israel. 


84 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


It is well for us little men to bear in mind that it 
does not require genius to bring ruin. Men who can- 
not navigate a vessel could scuttle it. It is not diffi- 
cult to put a big stone or a railway sleeper on a line of 
rails and hurry a train full of passengers into anguish 
and death. Let me pray: “Lord, if I cannot be a 
great man, let my littleness do no harm. If I 
cannot do the great deeds which mean popularity, save 
me from the mean and cowardly actions which make a 
man notorious. ’ ’ 

It is not often that we wish the Bible to be smaller, 
but we could well afford to leave out stories like 
Achan’s. Still, as the evil deed was done, it was well 
to warn the remainder of small folks that they may, 
like the grain of sand in the eye, cause a great 
amount of pain and anguish of spirit. 

How instructive is the thought that 

SIN IS A MISERY-MAKER; 

What tears and blood come of wrong-doing! Achan 
saw that which was forbidden, and coveted, then stole. 
Did he think that the red gold meant murder, and 
that the goodly garment meant widow’s weeds? He did 
not lift up his hand and slay the Israelites before Ai, 
but his sin slew the innocent. 

We may not think it, but our faults may wreck the 
family, and bring distress and pain to those we love, 
just as Achan’s sin brought his wife and children to 
doom ! Let us, when tempted to do wrong, ask Satan 
to shew us all the outcome. He shewed Achan the 
possible gain which the gold meant, but he did not 
show him the procession of the tribes and families 


THE TAKING OF AI 


85 


before the Lord until he was proved to be the man. 
He was not shown the tearful wife and the broken- 
hearted children about to die. It is well to track the 
course of sin to its legitimate end. 

Men who make money by the sin of others, should 
bear in mind that there is to be an inquisition for 
blood, and that some day Achan will have to reckon 
with Him who cannot be deceived. Besides, it is a 
question if men obtain the happiness they seek, even in 
this world, if they are winning wealth by evil-doing. 
When Achan had got the gold, he was obliged to dig a 
hole in his tent floor. He would have to keep the 
riches out of sight, and never was able to spend 
the money, nor was his wife ever able to don the 
garment. 

Oh, my soul, learn that sin makes misery, and that 
I may never again be happy after taking the wrong 
step. 

If Achan had but waited till Ai fell into the hands of 
his people, then he could have looted without fear. 
Jericho was the first fruits, and was Jehovah’s own, 
but Ai was given to the conquerors, and there were 
gold and garments without disgrace or danger. 

Poor Joshua, how he felt the shame of defeat! 
When he saw his troops driven before the people of 
Ai, he could not bear the shame, but cast himself on 
the ground. He thought that his sun had forever set, 
and was overwhelmed with the disgrace. He had, 
however, to learn that 

DESPAIR IS NOT A DIVINE ATTRIBUTE. 

Jehovah is never down-hearted. It is true that the 
Israelites are defeated, but it is because they are not 


86 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


on divine lines — keep the path of obedience, and peril 
becomes honor, and danger delightful. 

How the brave general would hearken, as the Lord 
told him no longer to lie on his face ! And does not 
God speak to every one of us who love Him in the 
same way? Did He not say to Moses, Wherefore 
criest thou unto Me? Speak to the children of Israel 
that they \ go forward! When was God a pessi- 
mist? He knows that the future is on His side, and it 
will be well when we know that truth also. 

Wrong-doing must be punished, then the righteous 
shall flourish. Let not those of us who love the Lord 
be downcast because of the prevalence of evil. Sin 
of every sort is doomed, and Jesus shall reign. 

But, 

BEFORE THERE CAN BE VICTORY, SIN MUST BE 
DEALT WITH. 

Achan was slain. Let us look into our own hearts 
and bring out our own Achans. Before we look for 
the evil in others, let us show no quarter to our own 
faults. We need to ask the question, How much have 
I contributed towards the failures of the past? Have 
not I helped the wicked? Has not my example been 
sometimes in the wrong direction? Have I prayed 
with the earnestness that brings the answer, or have I 
been most formal when in private devotion? Have I 
fasted in secret, and fed' the hungry out of what I have 
saved? Let me bring my own sins to the stake, and 
when my Achan has been slain, march on to Ai ! 

There was one good thing came out of the defeat; 
Joshua learned 


THE TAKING OF AI 


87 


THE WISDOM OF USING ALL THE PEOPLE. 

He did at Ai what had succeeded before Jericho. God 
said, “Take all the people of war with thee.” 

One of the mistakes of the Church has been to leave 
the work to a few. When we have all the people of 
God employed we shall see blessed results. 

May I ask thee, reader, Art thou at work? If not, 
why not? If thou art not able to do aught else, thou 
canst call on the Name of the Lord. Let us, then, 
from to-day, do each his own work. Ministers can 
only do their task ; they cannot do ours. The pulpit 
is only one part of the Church’s weapons. Prayer, 
almsgiving, sick visiting, asking men and women to 
God’s house, teaching the little ones, family religion; 
all these are far-reaching in their usefulness. The 
people can do far more than the priest, when they are 
willing to bear their own share. The bayonet and the 
epaulette have each their own task. Joshua and 
Israel, when doing the rule of Jehovah, became 
omnipotent. 


THE TRANSFIGURED POOR STEWARD 
(Acts vi. and vii. ) 

We should soon have a revival if every church - 
officer determined that his name should describe his 
history. For instance, if every minister was resolved 
that he would live so that reverence could not be 
denied him. “Reverend” means worthy of venera- 
tion, and so we give ministers this title. Let us deter- 
mine that we will earn our titles. “Stephen” means 
“Crown,” and the first martyr proved his right to be 
placed among the kings of men. 

Let stewards husband the resources of the Church so 
that she obtain the best returns for her gifts, and let 
ministers remember that they are to be the best serv- 
ants the Church possesses. Teachers are to show 
their scholars that which otherwise they would not 
have seen ; trustees be worthy of the trust reposed in 
them, and prayer leaders those who lead others to the 
Throne of Grace. Then we shall have a blessing there 
will not be room to contain — that is to say, we shall 
need a larger chapel and more class rooms at once. 

We learn from the history of Stephen that 

WE CANNOT PREVENT OFFENSES, BUT WE MAY 
PREVENT STRIFE. 

It must needs be that offenses come, but blessed is he 
who turns an offense into a blessing as the apostles 
did. We read: 


88 


THE TRANSFIGURED POOR STEWARD 


89 


“There arose a murmuring.” 

Yes, everything did not go straight even when the 
apostles ruled and the Holy Ghost was given! Human 
nature has never allowed us to be proud of it long. 
Men soon get wrong, even when they have all things 
common ; socialism of the highest sort would not save 
us from friction. Perhaps it is well to know that the 
greater the power the greater need for the oil-can. 
How clever the engine-driver is in lubricating the 
locomotive! Have you noticed the pains which are 
taken to see that the axles of the train are well 
greased? And the greater the speed the greater need 
for oil. 

Have you a revival going on? Then watch the 
more. “Let brotherly love continue” if you would 
keep it going. When the old women complained they 
did not get their share of the poor money, Peter might 
soon have had a quarrel, but he was for adding to the 
number of workers and to the power of prayer. You 
cannot have fire without fuel, and it must go out if 
you don’t add something to burn. I have noticed that 
when a fire breaks out, one thing that is done is to 
keep the engines playing on the next house, so that 
the sparks don’t find anything to burn. 

How disappointed Satan must have been when he 
failed to get up a church quarrel ! It looked at one 
time as if he would succeed. Fault-finders are the 
devil’s allies, and make it easy for him to spread mis- 
chief. You and I know men and women, who, if they 
helped God as much as they helped His foes, would 
win a high place in heaven ; as it is, if they get there, 
they will need God to wipe away their tears, as they 
see their folly and unlikeness to the best style of 


90 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


Christian. Let you and me refuse to take offense, or 
to give it, and we shall have a chance some day to walk 
with the apostles. 


GOSPEL SUCCESS WILL PROVOKE THE EVIL ONE. 

The appointment of the seven deacons led to a great 
blessing. They were the best men possible; not 
chosen because of their wealth, or its opposite, but 
because they were fit. Peter and his fellows could 
now find time to pray instead of weighing loaves, and 
could study their Bible because released from count- 
ing coin. 

As a result, “the word of God increased,” that is to 
say, there was a bigger crop. Solomon tells us that 
in all labor there is profit. When a farmer cannot 
afford to employ labor, he has a difficulty in paying 
his rent, and when the church lessens its workers it 
has less results. We call the bee that makes the honey 
a worker. Drones have their uses, but they do not 
add to the stock of honey. 

Satan was angry. Just when he expected to stop 
the work, lo, it increased! “And the numbers of the 
disciples multiplied.” We could almost be sorry for 
the Wicked One; it was such a failure, this attempt to 
injure the work of God, for, what was the greatest of 
victories for the truth, — priests were converted! 
When ecclesiastics become “ obedient to the faith," 
hell has to contract its borders. There is no chance 
for the devil when his leading allies become penitents. 

Is there any wonder that Stephen was selected as the 
one the foe must attack? It was 


THE TRANSFIGURED POOR STEWARD 


91 


A COMPLIMENT TO HIS ABILITY. 

If the devil lets you and me alone it is because we 
don’t hurt him. It’s the guns which do the damage 
he must silence. If we are having an easy time of it, 
we may begin to ask the reason. Young Christians, 
draw the enemy’s fire upon you! Forlorn hopes are 
met by grapeshot. Courage means blows and 
wounds. You may keep your uniform clean if you 
remain in the rear, but go to the front, even though 
you stain your accouterments with your own blood. 
Expect every baptism of the Holy Ghost to give you 
more suffering. It was when the Savior heard the 
approving voice of His Father that He was led into the 
wilderness to be tempted. Doubt your claim to Christ- 
likeness if you are ignorant of suffering. It was when 
Stephen was most useful that he was persecuted. 

THE RELIGIOUS DEVIL IS THE CRUEL DEVIL. 

The men who slew Stephen were very religious. 
Bigotry alwaj^s is. The greatest enemies of Jesus 
were those who led the devotions of the people. Can- 
nibals are not as cruel as some Christians, so called. 
The Inquisition would not have been possible in Fiji. 
When the devil wears saintly uniform, he gets to his 
worst. 

It was not the heathen, but the frequenters of the 
synagogue who disputed with Stephen, and as they 
could not resist his wisdom determined to destroy him. 
“They suborned men,” that is to say, they persuaded 
men to swear falsely. Let us beware lest we be led to 
injure those who are our superiors. If I am in the 
wrong, let me give way. Anger may be a symptom 


92 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


of weakness. Stephen’s adversaries were beaten men 
so far as argument went, so they had recourse to brute 
force. “They caught him, and brought him to the 
council.” He was hurried away as though he were a 
thief or a murderer, and accused falsely. Religion 
without piety makes men act like devils. Satan has 
never been better served than by those who have 
named themselves after Christ. 

Let us not lose sight of the fact that bigotry is not 
confined to one religious sect. No denomination has a 
monopoly of this hellish principle. You and I may 
soon help the Wicked One if we are not gentle to 
those who differ from us. 

In forms of worship, and especially in the conduct of 
the musical part of the service, there is great need of 
elasticity, or we may have discord of soul, even 
though the choir are in tune, and the baldest service 
may not be free from that which inflames passion 
because it is not done in the spirit of Christ. 

The chief priests and their admirers could crucify 
Christ without pain to themselves, but they could not 
allow Him to remain on the cross because the next day 
was the Sabbath! Orthodoxy will not save us from 
offending God, nor will a correct creed deliver us from 
breaking the law of love. We see the men who seemed 
most anxious for the honor of God’s truth were ready 
enough to dye their hands in the blood of Stephen ! 

WE MAY LEAVE OUR REPUTATION WITH GOD. 

It must have been a great trial to Stephen to be 
accused of blasphemy. How he must have grieved 
when he heard his enemies say that he was a bias- 


THE TRANSFIGURED POOR STEWARD 


93 


phemer! Do not be surprised if you are lied upon 
and slandered for the sake of your Savior ; you are in 
good company. Here was one of the holiest of men 
accused of that which he would have died rather than 
do! 

Stephen was accused of speaking against Moses, and 
there happened to him that which had never come 
to pass since the great law-giver was transfigured. 
Moses came down from the Mount with a shining face, 
and Stephen’s countenance looked as though he were 
an angel! 

Reputation may suffer for a while, but not for long. 
Eclipses never pause; they travel surely if slowly. 
No one nowadays believes Lady Potiphar. Trust 
God with your good name. He can make it shine all 
the more for the injury some may try to do you. 
It shall be as Punshon said of Stephen, 


“While from his angel face a lustre streamed, 
So bright, so pure ; it seemed 
As if already heaven had let down 
Her child’s awaiting crown.” 


GREAT SUFFERING FOR CHRIST MEANS GREAT SOLACE 
FROM CHRIST. 

Stephen had to endure much for his master, but he 
had honor such as few, if any one else, ever had. The 
wonderful outline of the history of God’s people which 
he put before his hearers shows that in spite of their 
hellish rage he was calm and dignified. What a 
knowledge of the Scripture he possessed! How 
rapidly he went over the principal events of the Bible 


94 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


story, and how he brought home to his hearers their 
sin! 

It was more than they could bear. “They were cut 
to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their 
teeth.” What a description! We can see their faces 
lit up by the fires of passion, and we can hear their 
teeth snap with hellish rage, but their victim was 
cheered by a sight of his Lord. He cries out : 

“Behold! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of 
Man standing on the right hand of God.” 

What? Are they to be told that the Nazarene whom 
they had killed but a few weeks before was in heaven, 
and at the right hand of the Majesty on high? This 
was too much. They ran upon him, and, dragging 
him out of the city, began to beat out his life by 
stones. But Stephen was the only calm man in the 
crowd. The smile he had seen on his Savior's face had 
made him feel that he could endure earth’s spite and 
treason with ease. So kneeling down, he said, “Lord 
Jesus, receive my spirit,” and not content to pray for 
himself alone, he interceded for his murderers, and 
earnestly said with his dying breath, “Lord, lay not 
this sin to their charge!” And now he falls asleep in 
Jesus, the first of the Noble Army of Martyrs. 

Do we not see that this man was to be envied? Those 
who suffer for Jesus will find solace in Him. If the 
Lord calls us to bear our cross, He will not only 
strengthen us for the task, but make heaven meet us 
on the way ! That greatest of preachers, Chrysostom, 
was wont to say, “Jesus sits, come what will; He is 
to sit till His enemies are made His footstool; — but 
when His servants are persecuted He cannot sit, and 
when they are martyred He rises to do them honor, and 


THE TRANSFIGURED POOR STEWARD 


95 


to receive them.” Punshon has made use of these 
ideas, and in good verse has said : 

“Though in their baffled rage the heathen groan, 

Christ sits upon the throne ; 

To crush His foes, to screen His own from ill, 

Kingly He sitteth still ; 

Expecting, not impatient, till the chime 
Shall sound the last of time. 

“But when from murderous hands the martyrs break, 

He riseth for their sake ; 

He whom no shock of battled worlds could move, 

In recompensing love 

Rises to give, whene’er His Stephens come, 

Their warmest welcome home!” 


WINNING GOD’S BATTLES 


“And Joshua discomfited Amalek with the edge of 
the sword.’’ — Exodus xvii. 13. 

This is a bulletin, not a gazette. We are used to see 
the general’s name in the hasty statement sent off 
immediately after the victory, but when the successful 
leader pens his gazette, he particularizes, and gives the 
details of the battle, which regiments distinguished 
themselves, and even names individuals who have won 
honor by their acts of bravery, so that we now know, 
not merely the victor’s name, but the more humble 
names of those who helped him to win. 

Some day our Joshua shall slay Amalek utterly. 
The last battle shall be won, and evil rear its ugly 
head no more. Then, when the books are opened, 
every good deed shall be read out, and secret acts of 
bravery and goodness shall be honored. There are 
not a few who have been unknown to fame, who will 
shine as the stars for ever and ever. 

We learn from Deuteronomy xxv. 18 that Amalek 
had “smote the hindmost, even all that were feeble.’’ 
In the presence of the enemy there should be 

NO STRAGGLERS. 

These are always a temptation to the foe. Let us 
never forget that when we are feeble or straggling we 
are a mark for the enemy. 

Do you think no one knows when we are living far 
from God? Is the maid who dusts our bedroom the 

96 


WINNING GOD'S BATTLES 


97 


only one who looks on the Bible lids, and could write 
our names in the dust? When we absent ourselves 
from the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, is the min- 
ister the only one who detects our absence? Be sure 
of this : when the enemy sees you leave your home 
without prayer, he sends word before you, and there 
are new temptations awaiting you in business. The 
hindmost and the feeble are sure to be the first 
attacked, and therefore should have special care. 
Amalek hangs about the flank ; so let there be a rear 
guard of picked soldiers to care for what the writer of 
the Epistle to the Hebrews calls “the feeble knees, and 
the hands which hang down. ’ ’ 

Joshua discomfited Amalek, not Moses or some other 
friend. There are 


PLENTY OF ENEMIES WITHOUT FIGHTING OUR BRETHREN. 

What sport it must be for the alien when he sees the 
soldiers of the cross wounding each other! Whatever 
we men may think of the volumes of controversial 
divinity, the reading of them must have made laughter 
for the foe who hates both sides. For instance, good 
John Wesley stayed at home to write those pithy and 
drastic pamphlets against Toplady and Hill, while the 
good work of saving men from hell had to pause. And 
then Toplady must leave the composing of such hymns 
as “Rock of Ages,” and pen a rejoinder that would 
make Wesley feel as though some one had cast vitriol 
upon him ! 

If we are wounded fighting Amalek, it will not 
increase our pension, for we shall be too ashamed of 
the wounds we receive in battling with brethren to 


98 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


say anything about them. Let us keep our bitterness 
for sin, and our swords for the King’s enemies. We 
are soldiers, and not gladiators; so, while there is an 
enemy of Christ left, we had better spend all our 
strength and courage in battling for the Lord, and not 
in wounding each other. 

Amalek is 

NOT TO BE BEATEN WITHOUT A FIGHT. 

This is no review. It is not work for blank cartridge. 
The struggle against sin is real, as we shall find to our 
cost if we are not wary. How Satan must laugh and 
sneer at many of the efforts made against him : ser- 
mons preached without point, Sunday school lessons 
and addresses with no interest or teaching in them! 
We must come to close quarters. Mere commonplace 
generalities are not enough. It is not long-pounders, 
but the sword, that wins the day. When a young 
Spartan complained to his mother that his sword was 
too short, he was told to go a step nearer the enemy, 
and it would be long enough then. 

Let us not forget to use the edge of the sword. 
Neither the flat of it nor the back will cut as a sword 
ought. I saw a picture once of some soldiers at the 
grindstone, getting their swords ready for the fight. 
What sort of an edge has yours? Has it an edge at all? 
All other things being equal, God can do more with a 
sharp man than a dull one. Don’t be afraid of study, 
or anything else that will make you more effective. 
Few things are so much to be dreaded as respectable 
dullness ! 

Moses was for 


WINNING GOD'S BATTLES 


99 


EACH MINDING HIS OWN WORK 

— Joshua to fight, and himself to take the top of the 
hill. 

This is the way battles are won. The commissariat 
officer serves his country while securing bullocks for 
rations, and sending up ammunition to the front. 
There is, perhaps, not enough thought of those who 
supply the wants of workers. Have you ever noticed, 
at a fire, how all attention is given to the engine when 
it comes up, laden with men, who spring off, each one 
running to his post, some fixing on the hose, some 
getting out ladders, while another with the brazen 
pipe goes to the place of danger, and battles with the 
fire? There is another man at work, though, whom no 
one cares to look at. The turncock, with his large 
key, has gone down a back street, where there is no 
admiring crowd, and he turns on the water, without 
which the brave firemen would be of no use, and the 
mob would have 

NOTHING TO CHEER AT. 

Is it not so with some unobtrusive men and women 
who find the funds for carrying on the work which 
others do? Let us not undervalue any kind of work, 
whether it is done publicly or in secret, knowing that 
the Master will “give every man according as his work 
shall be.” 

This battle would not have been fought, to say noth- 
ing of won, if there had not been 

GOOD ADVICE GIVEN AND TAKEN. 

4 4 Moses said unto J oshua. ” “J oshua did as Moses had 
said.k* C. 


100 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


What is the use of experience, if it does not speak? 
Why wait till your advice is asked? Why has God kept 
you in the world, old man, if He may not have the 
benefit of your experience? Don’t wait till the chance 
has gone by, and then say : 

“Ah, I knew it would be so!” 

And if Moses speaks to Joshua, let not the young 
chief think that the old fogy is always interfering. 
It is not for nothing that God keeps the gray head 
here, instead of taking it home to be crowned. 

“Choose us out men,” said Moses. Don’t take any 
fool. There is a standard in the army. Each man 
must pass the doctor. It is not everybody who can be 
even a raw recruit. Are we particular enough about 
our soldiers in the army of the Lord? Do we not set 
men over the house of God who have not brains 
enough to take charge of anything else? We should 
fight all the better if we had better officers, even if 
there were fewer of them. Oh, if we could but secure 
for the army of God the same amount of bravery and 
generalship there is on the wrong side ! 

Moses on the hill is 

AN EMBLEM OF PUBLIC PRAYER. 

On the top of the hill, where all the fighting men 
could see him. Would you not like to have heard the 
prayer Moses put up that day? He was a wonderful 
man to pray. He who could say, “Blot my name out 
of Thy book,” would be sure to offer a remarkable 
prayer when he saw his countrymen beloved attacked 
by Amalek. 

It was a prayer that remembered the past. He took 


WINNING GOD'S BATTLES 


101 


the rod of God in his hand. What a history that rod 
had! It was the old shepherd’s crook that Moses used 
in Midian. Before the Lord it had been changed into 
a serpent. It had beckoned to the waves of the Red 
Sea, and they had divided, and made a path for the 
Israelites to pass over, and again had been waved over 
the waters, and the floods returned to their place, 
drowning the enemies of God. It had smitten the rock 
in Horeb, and there had been water for the people to 
drink ; and now Moses takes it with him to the top of 
the hill. Do we not forget too often the things God 
has honored in the past? Where God honors let us 
lot show neglect, but continue to keep in hand that 
which “smote Rahab and wounded the dragon.” 

There is a mystery about prayer that we cannot 
unravel. How it is, or why it is, that success in the 
highest sense is more or less dependent upon the 
prayers of others than the worker, is a puzzle; but 
facts in spiritual, as well as natural life, are stubborn 
things. “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and 
fasting, ’ ’ was not spoken by some enthusiastic scholar, 
but by the Great Master Himself. The fact is plain 
enough, though the why and wherefore are kept secret. 
We have here 

THE HISTORY, IF NOT THE PHILOSOPHY OF SUCCESS, 

or the want of it. “And it came to pass, when Moses 
held up his hand, that Israel prevailed, and when he 
let down his hand Amalek prevailed.” 

Could we but have men and women mighty in 
prayer, some victories would be recorded on our side 
ere long. It is not given to all men to fight; your 


102 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


work then must be done on your knees if not in the 
battle-field. Either on the hill with the rod in hand, 
or on the plain with the sword, we must do our best to 
win the day. One of the bravest of Christian soldiers, 
scarred with many a fight, said : 

“I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting 
up holy hands.” 

How much even the mightiest of men are 


DEPENDENT UPON OTHERS 

much weaker than themselves! It was well for the 
fortunes of the day that Moses was not alone. Moses’ 
hands were heavy. How dependent the soul is com- 
pelled to be upon the body! If the flesh is weak, the 
soul cannot strike a vigorous blow. The soldiers of 
Israel would watch the rod of Moses ; they would soon 
learn to foretell victory or defeat, as the arms went up 
or down. Aaron and Hur were wise enough to stay up 
the wearied muscles, and his hands were steady until 
the going down of the sun. So we next read, Joshua 
discomfited Amalek. 

Some of my readers are not prominent men, like 
either Moses or Joshua. But you, too, have your part 
to play. Do you stay up the hands of Moses, or is 
your influence bearing them down? ‘‘The one on the 
one side, the other on the other side.” It took two of 
them ; they could not be at both sides at once. If you 
can do nothing else, you may bear up those who lead 
others in prayer. How the soldiers would bless those 
who were holding up the arms that seemed like the 
arms of God ! Let us then, if we can do nothing else, 
see to it that all our influence is 


WINNING GOD'S BATTLES 


103 


TO BEAR UP, AND NOT TO BEAR DOWN, 

those who turn the tide of battle, and win the victories 
which make angels sing, Hallelujah! 

An altar marked the place of battle, and glory was 
given to the Lord of Hosts. Though the aching limbs 
of Moses would for many a day tell of his efforts in 
turning the battle that day, yet he called the altar, 
“The Lord is my banner.” 

Shall not we, who are the soldiers of the cross, call 
the battle-fields where we have won our bravest fights 
by the name of Him to whom we ascribe all might and 
majesty? Nay, when the last fight has been won, and 
the enemy of our race forever defeated, we shall unite 
in singing: 

“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto 
Thy name give glory!” 


STONING THE GODS 


“Once was I stoned.” — Acts xiv; II Cor. xi. 25. 

That is no ordinary heap of stones. See, there is 
blood on the sharp-edged ones, and skin, and hair! 
And no common blood. It is the blood of one of 
earth’s best sons. 

Whose blood is it? The blood of Paul, Christ’s mis- 
sionary. 

We saw another heap twelve years ago, on which 
was the blood of Stephen. Only a dozen years 
between the man who held the clothes of Stephen’s 
murderers, and the martyr Paul, for he was a martyr 
then in intention, and for anything we know he liter- 
ally died for the truth. For he tells us, “Whether in 
the body or out of the body, I cannot tell.’’ Perse- 
cutors may become helpers, and he who, wolf-like, 
made havoc among the flock of Christ, may lay down 
his life for the sheep. 

This book may fall into the hands of 

SOME FOE OF JESUS 

and the gospel. You, my friend, may yet become one 
of the advocates of the truth you hate so much. Yes, 
the pirate may yet carry lawful cargo. 

Do you wish it were so? Then haul down your 
ensign and run up the colors of God the King, the 
white flag and red cross. Cease to do evil, learn to do 
well. Cast yourself on the mercy of God, and instead 

104 


STONING THE GODS 


105 


of execution for rebellion and piracy, you shall be the 
commander of your own vessel, and be used to run 
emigrants over to the land of holiness and beauty, 
where He waits to house them forever. 

Sermons in stones? Yes, there are many homi- 
lies in such a blood-stained stone-heap as this, in every 
pebble and boulder. As we turn them over they say, 

HOWEVER GOOD A MAN IS, HIS MISTAKES WILL 
INJURE HIM. 

Being godly does not insure infallibility. Paul made 
several mistakes in his life, and there seems to have 
been one here. 

It is not very easy to account for the sudden revul- 
sion of feeling. The people at first thought they were 
the gods come down in the likeness of men. After- 
ward, Paul was stoned by the same people. 

Some light is incidentally here thrown on the per- 
sonal appearance of these heroic men. Barnabas was 
called Jupiter, so we conclude he was a massive, fine- 
looking man, while Paul was Mercury, who we know 
from the ancient statues of that god was always repre- 
sented as a small-limbed, slightly-built man. 

While we may not be able altogether to account for 
the sudden change in the feelings of the people 
towards these two men, we may see that there need 
have been no mistaking them for gods. Paul did not 
use the common formula when he healed the cripple. 
It was not “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth , rise up 
and walk,” but “Stand upright on thy feet!” We 
quite think that Paul meant no harm, but it was mis- 
leading to the poor ignorant heathen, and he had to 


106 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


smart for it. How much better if the bystanders had 
been led to ask : 

“Who is the god they invoked? Who is this Jesus of 
Nazareth? It is a new name to us; who is it?’ ' 

Let not your good be evil spoken of. Avoid the 
appearance of evil. Oh, if we could be spared 

THE MISTAKES OF GOOD MEN ! 

Because punishment and suffering come to the good if 
they blunder. 

Here is a man who is anxious to give money, and so 
sees what he thinks is a good thing, and recklessly 
ventures more than he can afford, and so you have 
“another of these Christians sold!” 

The father of a family, so much engaged in church 
work that he cannot be ever at home, and so the boys 
run wild. 

“What plagues they are! I do believe good men’s 
children are the worst of all, ’ ’ the neighbors say. 

Zeal runs away with another, and without thinking 
of health, he is worn out. If men forget they are 
human, the kind of work they do won’t prevent their 
wearing out, and so there is a gap in the ranks before 
the time. 

Perhaps, if the truth was told, many a one has been 
martyred because he could not be quiet, and it may be 
some of my readers are suffering, not for conscience’ 
sake, but for the want of common sense ! 

But do not these stones teach us 

THE WAY THE WORLD USES ITS BENEFACTORS? 

Stone the man who healed the cripple ! That is the 
way we always do. We do not deny that the cripple 


STONING THE GODS 


107 


has been healed, but stone him. What business has 
he to do anything new? 

Does not the world often starve its geniuses? Who 
expects wealth for an inventor? You must be content 
to be the ladder up which other people rise in the 
world, if you have seen further than any one else, and 
are bringing out something fresh. The history of 
poets and painters tells us of hunger and nakedness. 
Some of the books that live were written in naked 
garrets, and others in prison cells. Livingstone has 
done more to make England famous than most men, 
and yet he was more than poor, and the expedition 
that found him was sent out by America. It was the 
Stars and Stripes that mingled with the Union Jack at 
Ugiji. 

Do not complain, my friend, if the world hate you. 
don’t expect gratitude 

if you are doing good. You will be better off than God 
if you get thanks for kindness. Why should we be 
surprised? Look at the cross. Who hangs between 
the malefactors? What crime has He done? What are 
the people crucifying Him for? Feeding the hungry? 
Opening the eyes of the blind? Making lame men 
independent of crutches? Raising the dead? What, 
has He done all this? Has He always spoken kindly 
to the erring, and helped many to be good, — then 
crucify Him? “Away with Him; He is not fit to 
live!” The servant is not above his Lord. If the 
Master went this way, why should not the servant? 

Bishop Hall once said, “Let who will hope to walk 
on roses and violets to the glory of heaven; O Savior, 


108 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


let me trace Thee by the track of Thy blood ; and by 
Thy red steps follow Thee to Thine eternal rest and 
happiness!” 

There are many texts in this stone-heap. Here is 
one: 

BIGOTRY BRUTALIZES IGNORANCE. 

‘‘Certain Jews persuaded the people.” You have 
the history of persecution epitomized in that nine- 
teenth verse. 

Bigotry makes a tool of ignorance. Let us beware 
of ignorance. But let us not content ourselves with 
our children learning everything but the Word of God. 
It is no good sign that doctrinal preaching is on the 
decrease, that, in fact, the people do not like to be 
instructed. 

If you are not ignorant, and so cannot become 
brutal, do not be a bigot. Do not fear new ideas. It 
is true they did not occur to you, but let another man 
explore the realms of thought, if you do not care to 
leave your quiet home. There will be quite enough to 
throw stones at the man with a new idea without your 
throwing one. If a man loves God, he has been prom- 
ised “a crown of life,” and you will not like, should 
you see him crowned, to think of the time when you 
threw a stone at his head ! 

Religion will not save you from bigotry ; there are 

NO BIGOTS LIKE RELIGIOUS ONES. 

What hard names are used by very religious men 
when they speak of some whom they think not so lib- 
eral as themselves, all because they say God will pun- 
ish sin eternally! Let us learn to tolerate the man 


STONING THE GODS 


109 


who loves God, seeing that we shall have to live with 
him forever. Whatever liberty we claim for our- 
selves, give another man the same, and let not London 
and New York see what Lystra saw, — men who wor- 
ship Jehovah stir up others to injure a man who prays 
to the same God as themselves. 

But all the stones are not bloody. Does not that 
teach 

PERSECUTION IS LIMITED IN ITS RESULTS? 

“Once was I stoned.” Paul lived twenty years after 
this, but never was stoned again. The enemy had 
tried to do it before, but was not able. 

“Once was I stoned,” not Barnabas. God did not 
put him to the trial. Not the other disciples, only 
Paul. 

“I was stoned," not killed; at least, though left for 
dead, I rose up and came into the city. It may be that 
dark days are coming for the Church of God. It may 
be that many may have to suffer, but the foes of God 
cannot slay Him. They may beat out our brains, but 
they cannot kill the truth. 

Paul did not give up the work to which he was 
called because he had to suffer. No, brave little man, 
we see him just as the disciples stood around him, 
weeping over his poor body, and preparing to bury it ; 
he opens his eyes, and, though weak and sore, stands 
up and comes into Lystra again, and “preached the 
gospel to that city. ” Here was 

GOOD FOR EVIL. 

Mark how the Christian hero makes his very sufferings 
useful, telling the church at Lystra, and every scar 


110 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


illustrated the truth that “we must through much 
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” 

This was not the last time he visited the place. 
Once more he went, and found fruit remaining, and 
became acquainted with his son in the gospel, Tim- 
othy. How true it is that the blood of the martyr is 
the seed of the church ! Such men as the friend and 
comforter of Paul, as Timothy was, are cheap at such 
a price. Let us trust our God, even when we are hurt 
in doing good ; out of our wounds there may flow that 
which shall heal many. ’Tis still true what Herbert 
sang : 


“Tempests are calm to Thee, they know Thy hand, 
And hold it fast, as children do their father’s, 
Which cry and follow.” 


GRACE AND GRATITUDE 


I wish to discuss the beautiful story told in the 30th 
chapter of I Samuel. It is one of the many stories 
which go to make the biography of the son of Jesse. 

I don’t think it is possible to imagine any greater 
disappointment than that which came upon David and 
his men when they returned from Philistia, where 
they had been living for some time, and were counting 
every hour, as they walked along the road, to the time 
when they should see their wives and children ; but lo, 
when they reached their homes, there was nothing but 
a heap of smoking ruins! There had been a slave 
raid. A company of men had come from a neighbor- 
ing country, and had ravaged a considerable portion of 
the country, destroying village after village ; but the 
last place they came to before they turned their faces 
homeward was Ziklag, and as all the men were away, 
there was nobody left but women and children in the 
town, and so there was no need for fighting. No lives 
were taken; but the place was plundered, flocks and 
herds were driven away, and the women and children 
carried into what they feared was hopeless captivity; 
so that when these brave, noble soldiers reached their 
homes, to their horror and terror, there was no sound 
of voices, and nothing to be seen but desolation and 
ruin ; we are told — and we are not surprised to read it 
— that they lifted up their voices and wept ; and they 
wept until the reservoir of tears was exhausted — they 
could not weep any more. 

hi 


112 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


These strong and brave soldiers of David, men who 
had never been used to turn their backs upon their 
foes, were completely overwhelmed with grief; and 
then by a sudden revulsion it occurred to them that 
David was to blame. Why they should think so I can- 
not tell; but it only goes to show that there is 

NOTHING IN THE WORLD SO UNCERTAIN AS POPULARITY. 

Ministers and politicians need to know this. There 
is no solid anchorage in popular feeling. The man 
who is the idol of to-day may be the football of 
to-morrow ; and people who are ready to die for you 
one day will be ready to sell you the next. 

They looked for stones, in order that they might 
put him to death. Poor fellow! He had suffered as 
much as they had. His family had been carried away 
like theirs. He had been compelled to share their 
grief, but this was the keenest stroke of all — that these 
men who had been used to idolize him were now wait- 
ing to take his life. But David encouraged himself in 
his God ; and this is what we must do when there 
comes to us an unexpected change — something the 
very opposite of what we had the right to expect. We 
must remember that no change in our circumstances 
can take away the throne of God. That is always 
within reach of the man who will call upon the name 
of the Lord. 

David said, “Bring hither the ephod.’’ When the 
sign of the sacred Presence was brought, he asked the 
question, “Shall I go after these people, and if I go 
after them shall I find them?” And the voice of the 
Lord replied, “Thou shalt pursue them, and shalt 


GRACE AND GRATITUDE 


113 


overtake them, and thou shalt recoverall.” And so 
David soon had his men in motion ; when they knew 
that God had promised them the joy of finding those 
they had lost, they started off in pursuit. 

After a little while, as they were going through the 
wilderness, they found a black man. There he was, 
an African, in the very arms of death, just at the last 
gasp; and they rescued him. 

That brings me to the first thing I want to say, 
namely, that we have in this story a picture of 

GRACE PAUSING TO SAVE. 

They were in a great hurry. They could not afford to 
lose any time. The foe was on the border and might 
be away if they lost any time. They were in such a 
hurry that they had to leave two hundred men who 
had become foot-sore and were unable to travel, and 
could not wait until they were well and strong enough 
to go with them. They went on with two hundred 
short, because they were in such great haste ; and yet 
they found time to show mercy to the perishing. 

Those of you who have read your Bibles with atten- 
tion will very likely remember that one of the names 
of Jesus is David. Four or five times He is called 
David. It is His best name, because it is the name 
that will live longest; it means “beloved.” That is 
the name His Father called Him by, when the people 
thought it thundered. The Lord said, “This is my 
beloved Son.” It is the name of our Master, our Sav- 
ior; and I want you to think that when David stopped 
to help this poor wretch he was a picture of Jesus 
Christ. 


114 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


Whatever there may be going on in heaven, God can 
find time to save. I like to think that this is the chief 
employment of the Divine being up to the judgment 
day, whatever He will do afterwards. It strikes me, 
as I gaze upon nature, and look upon the many won- 
ders that are working out, as though God had set the 
machinery in motion and will never need anybody to 
attend to it. The procession of the seasons, and all 
the other works of nature, seem as though God had 
started them and they would go on ; but in this work 
of salvation 

EVERY CASE REQUIRES SPECIAL CARE 

and special treatment. No two souls are alike, and 
the circumstances of each soul require special care, 
and I like to think that God has time to attend to the 
salvation of every man separately. 

It must be borne in mind that this Egyptian, whom 
David stopped to save, was 


ONE OF THEIR ENEMIES. 

He was one of the very people who had helped to bum 
the town — one of this slave party; and yet this was the 
man they brought to life again. 

Oh, what a picture the son of Jesse is of the Savior! 
I don’t know who Jesus Christ’s worst enemy is, or in 
what part of the world he lives ; but if I could find the 
very worst enemy, the most powerful foe of Jesus 
Christ, the man who is doing more harm to the king- 
dom of heaven than anybody else, I have a right to 
come to him and say: 


GRACE AND GRATITUDE 


115 


“You are just the man Christ would rather save than 
any other. ’ ’ 

Perhaps I am talking now to some enemies of Jesus 
Christ. We never know who are in our congregations. 
Perhaps there is some one here who dares not look 
back upon the past, so full of guilt, so full of that 
which is offensive to conscience and to God, that you 
dare not look at it; don’t look down, look up! You 
have a right to look up to God. You have no friend 
like Him whom you have treated as your worst enemy ! 
“God has commended His love towards us, in that 
while we were yet sinners Christ died for us,” and 
whoever you are, God will take pains to save you. 

As I look upon this man and upon the men around 
him, I sometimes feel that if I were an artist I would 

PUT THE PICTURE UPON CANVAS. 

These great, strong men, with their sunburnt faces, 
these iron-hearted men, as tender as a lot of women 
with this man. They would pick him up — “Poor fel- 
low! why, he is nearly gone!” — and they would get 
one of their water-skins, and dip a finger into it, and 
put it on his tongue, and then a little more, and then a 
little more still, until, by-and-by, the dried-up tongue 
would become moistened and less like leather, and then 
his eyes would open, and he would say: 

“Who are you?” 

“We have come to save you — we have stopped on 
purpose to deliver you.” 

And then we are told they got some figs and raisins. 
Can’t you hear those strong men saying: “Do you 
think you could manage to eat a raisin?” And so they 


116 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


feed him, until by-and-by life comes into the man, and 
he is able to sit up. Then it was that David asked 
him who he was, and where he was going, and whether 
he could guide them to the enemy. 

I want you to understand, my friend, that God is 
prepared to take pains with you and save you. The 
worst man is the man that God would delight to save. 

I was preaching once to one of those men, one whose 
record was the worst in the village. I had him in my 
congregation. He had given his heart to God. Hard 
and black as he was, sunk in villainy, they tell me the 
night he came out to the penitent form he trembled 
like a leaf, and he beat the floor until decent people 
were frightened ; but the angels were not frightened. 
I could do with two or three jobs of that sort a week. 
The man who told me about it said: “He was in one 
of my houses, and he owed me $40 for rent. He had 
nine children, and I did not like to prosecute him, so 
I let him go into another house, and wrote it off as a 
bad debt years and years ago; but since he gave his 
heart to God he has come and paid me every cent of 
that $40. ” 

That is the sort ! He had had some of those raisins, 
you know, and he had been tasting some of the water 
of life, and David’s great Lord had laid His hand upon 
him for good. 

Now there is another picture, 

GRACE PROMISING PROTECTION TO THOSE IT SAVES. 

It struck David, “It is a rare good thing that we 
stopped with this man ; he is the very man we want. 
He knows! He is one of them. He knows the way 


GRACE AND GRATITUDE 


117 


and where they are.” And he said, “Canst thou lead 
me to this company?” 

The man looked at him and said, ‘‘Swear, swear to 
me by Jehovah. None of those bits of idols I have 
been worshiping — I have done with them — but swear 
by thy God that thou wilt neither kill me, nor let me 
fall into the hands of my master. If thou wilt swear 
that, I will show thee the way. * ’ 

David protected him ; and I think it is very possible 
there may be somebody reading this who has said: 

“I should have made the start many a year since, 
only I know I could not hold on, I could not perse- 
vere.” 

They said of this man that I mentioned, ‘‘We will 
give him to ‘Rushbearing’;” but Rushbearing Sunday 
he was in my congregation. I should like to have 
shaken my fist in Satan’s face, and told him about it. 

I want you to see that God can keep you whatever 
the temptations are around you, whatever bad acquaint- 
ances and friends you have, whatever bad habits you 
have formed. There is 

ONLY ONE ALMIGHTY, 

and it’s not Satan! There is only one Being who is 
omnipotent, and it is the God of Love, it is David’s 
Friend and Master, it is the Savior whom we venerate, 
the Author of the Gospel. It is He who is almighty! 

I know that sometimes some of the excellent of the 
earth, some of the very sweetest Christians that I have 
known, have been sadly tempted to think that at the 
far end they will fall. I have known some beautiful 
Christians whom Satan has assaulted, and said, ‘‘Ah, 


118 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


it’s all very well while you can go and hear these 
ministers, while you can read your Bible ; it is all very 
well while you can go to this class and have these 
means of grace, but there is a time coming when the 
desire will fail, when you will not be able to listen, 
when your ear will be dull and your eye dimmed, when 
you will have to stay upstairs and feel you will never 
be able to come down them any more, and in the day 
when you turn your face to the wall, I will have you.” 
I know a graveyard where there are a minister, and a 
clergyman, and a local preacher lying side by side; 
and the reason is this, the old local preacher was made 
a great blessing to the clergyman, and was his spiritual 
guide and father in the Gospel. When that local 
preacher died, this clergyman walked at the head of 
the procession, and said : 

“When I am dead, let me be laid by his side.” 

You poor, doubting Christian, remember that God 
can keep you, that He will take care of his own. 

“Swear to me!” Oh, my brother, I feel like saying 
that to my Master. None of us know what is to come, 
none of us know what lies before us, what dark tempta- 
tion will come to us on our death-bed, and so let us 
say, “Swear to me.” 

But He says, “I have sworn. As I live, saith the 
Lord.” 

Is there any sign of decay about God? God has not 
failed. I see no signs of decrepitude, no token of 
decay. “As I live.” Oh, let us cling to that! 
“Swear to me!” He has sworn by His own existence, 
because there is no greater oath, and we rely upon His 
oath, and take refuge in His promise. 

Then there is another picture — 


GRACE AND GRATITUDE 


119 


GRACE ASSISTED BY THE SAVED. 

He was the very man ! If they had offered a thousand 
dollars for the job, they could not have found one 
better. He was the very man of all the world. He 
was not a weak old man, brought up to some domestic 
business; he was used to wander about the country — a 
slave ! I know the sort ; I had had to do with them — 
they can find their way about. 

“I know. I can track their camels’ feet. I can 
show you them,” and he did, and led David’s men to 
the place. 

This is plain enough, that the man had been saved 
to be their guide and helper; and I want those of us 
who used to be 


AMONG THE AMALEKITES 

to be the guides of the Church. There are some of us, 
we know a thing or two. And things which some- 
times I wish I had never known cause me to help 
David. I say, you know where the wicked people 
live, you know their ways, you know what would have 
touched you when you were a wicked and ungodly 
man. Be the guide to those others who don’t know 
the way. Do that which other good people don’t know 
how to do. If you can’t be the sportsman, be the 
sportsman’s dog, and show him where the game lies. 
I would encourage all you who have been saved to 
make yourselves useful to your Savior. 

They came to the camp, and they found these 
Amalekites. They had taken to drinking. They little 
thought what would happen, and so they said, ‘‘Let us 


120 TALES OF ADVENTURE FROM THE OLD BOOK 


have a feast’ ’ ; and David came upon them, and made 
small work of them, and they got all their wives, and 
children, and cattle, and all the other things these 
fellows had gathered — there was a pretty haul — and 
every man got his share. They said: 

“We need not go soldiering any more, we can set up 
farming.” 

By-and-by they came near to the brook where those 
two hundred men were that they had left — they were 
well now. Some of these surly sort — for I am sorry to 
say that even David has some surly people — they said, 
“Do you think we are going to give this spoil to these 
fellows who have not done anything? Not we.’’ 

“What are you talking about?” said David; “is that 
your way? That’s not my way. No, this shall be the 
law, that he who is in the battle and he who stops with 
the stuff shall share alike ” 

What a difference there is between God’s people and 
the other sort! The Amalekites, when this poor 
Egyptian was taken ill, they left him to die ; but David 
said to the men whom he had left ill, “They shall have 
their share ; I want to see them driving their sheep 
and setting up farming.” And this was the law. 

Some of you who are now too old to do what you 
used to do, and cannot join in the prayer-meetings, 
your wages are going on ! This is the law of David, 
that the man who cannot go to the battle shall have 
just as much as the man who goes, if he abides by the 
stuff. 

Abide by David’s stuff, mind you; don’t stay with 
the saloonkeeper’s stuff or the gambler’s stuff. 

What do you say, you who serve the wicked one? 
Do you see the way he is going to serve you? When 


GRACE AND GRATITUDE 


121 


he has got all he can out of you, when you have done 
your utmost for him, he will 

THROW YOU AWAY LIKE A SQUEEZED LEMON. 

I would not stop with him if I were you. Go to your 
David. He will receive you. And though you are 
like an old, battered, crooked coin, He can melt you in 
the fires of His love, and stamp you with His image, 
and you shall become part of His spoil. 


THE END. 




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